Opportunity

"He sought an opportunity to betray him," Mark 14:11.

He? Judas Iscariot. Him? Jesus. That's what Jesus' secrecy was about. Password for the donkey. Password for the space for the upcoming Passover. Sneaking out to Bethany in the evenings. Or to a park to pray. He wanted to finish everything he had to teach and do before he got caught by the temple authorities. The authorities were scared of the crowds so they had to grab Jesus when he was alone, and they had no clue where he was outside the crowds. Had to be an inside job. And they got it with Judas, a favorite of Jesus. They'd pay him for it. Not that he wanted money, of course. Maybe he would donate it all to some worthy charity. Yeah. That was probably it.

We visit a brother or sister today sobered by human betrayal and subterfuge. We give thanks together that God planned for Jesus' cross anyway.