Although we may like to think that we have got our life planned out, it hardly ever works out as we had wanted. But for Jesus, it was different. He was coming to the climax of His ministry when He would become the Passover Lamb to take away the sins of the world. Although He would be arrested and killed, He was still in charge of every detail. He was not a victim of human greed or jealousy, nor the loser of a power struggle – although all those were present – because He was able to use each sinful thought and action in order to achieve God's purpose.
 
The Passover was the celebration of the exodus from Egypt 1500 years earlier (Exodus chapter 11 & 12). At that time the Pharaoh (king of Egypt) was using the Israelites as slaves to build his treasure cities and he refused God's command, through Moses, to let His people go. So God sent 10 plagues, the last being the death of the firstborn in each house in the country including Pharaoh's. However He announced His plan to Moses, in advance, who told the Israelites to kill a perfect male lamb and paint its blood on the door frames of the houses where they lived - because God said, "When I see the blood, I will pass-over you" (Exodus 12:12-13). That is why it was the Pass-over celebration. So there was a death in every household, either the first-born or a lamb.
 
Jesus wanted to celebrate the occasion with His disciples before He became the ultimate Passover Lamb so that the wrath of God against our rebellion might be taken by Jesus. Only those who trust in Jesus are sheltering under His blood; they are spared the punishment of hell and have everlasting life. The Upper Room meal was all planned out too. The householder was also under Jesus' command and allowed the disciples to prepare the special celebratory meal. It would be a time etched for ever on the disciples' minds and formed the basis of essential teaching for the church. It was all planned.
 
God is really in charge. He always has been and always will be. He takes the sad things to produce joy (like His own death and resurrection); He uses the terrible violence of sinful people to bring peace with God. He is not stopped by the refusal of rebels to obey Him and He is not intimidated by hostility. He is hospitable in the midst of hatred, and loving when surrounded by critics. Nothing ever knocks God off course. That is why we can follow Jesus with confidence, especially knowing that His blood protects us from eternal death as we put our trust in Him (www.crosscheck.org.uk).