Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover [lamb], His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?” 13 And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. 14 “Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ‘ 15 “Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished [and] prepared; there make ready for us.” 16 So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.

-Mark 14:12-16 (NKJV)

When I was a cub scout we had a motto, “Always be prepared.” We learned how to start camp fires, what to pack for a camping trip, how to help other people in crisis situations, and a host of other activities, all with the idea of being prepared. When I split my knee open several miles away from the nearest hospital, I had a wilderness survival kit complete with everything I needed to do to stabilize my knee and calm my nerves as we made our way to get medical attention. I had gauze to clean and pack the wound, I knew how to make a splint, I even had Tylenol on hand for the pain. I would have preferred to never have slit my knee open, but when I did, I was prepared.

In this passage today we see that the disciples were setting up and preparing for a Passover meal together. They just needed a location to meet and celebrate the meal. Jesus had somehow (either personally or supernaturally) made arrangements and there was a place that was prepared for the disciples to have the meal. What Jesus would say and do at this last meal together with these men would prepare them for what was coming next.

Everything that was about to happen to Jesus and the disciples was going to be unpleasant. It was going to hurt. In a sense it would all be terrible but also in a sense it was something that Jesus had and would prepare his disciples for. When they went through it all and looked back they would connect the dots. They would marvel at God’s graciousness and goodness to them in the midst of such a hard time.

It’s as I look back through my life that I often realize that God has prepared me for what I have been through and often it’s the things I’m doing today that God uses to prepare me for what he has tomorrow. We can marvel at God’s grace that in the midst of what would prove to be a difficult week that Jesus was prepared and he prepared the disciples for everything they couldn’t see coming. What a grace to know that he has prepared us for the difficult moments we face as well.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. Thank you for your grace in preparing us for the things ahead. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.