Providence in Christ's Death

God's providence, whereby He works all things after the counsel of His will, is seen throughout all the world.

This is contrasted with our puny efforts to predict what our own actions will lead to. We plot and scheme the best way forward, but we are often completely wrong.

These days, people are spending endless amounts of energy trying to figure out what Putin may do if we do this or that. The same sort of futile speculation is driving the "global warming" hysteria, when we don't actually know or understand how the climate systems work.

God's providence is seen in the events of the Palm Sunday weekend before Christ was put to death on the cross. In these stories, we can see how God used the actions of His creatures to accomplish His purposes. Consider these three vignettes from those days.

First vignette: Mary anointing the Lord Jesus at the celebration of Lazarus' resurrection.

We must never think that any act of worship of our dear Savior is too extravagant, because there will always be critics who will complain that it is much too wasteful and impractical.

Mary was worshiping Jesus because she loved Him so much for saving her dear brother Lazarus. Jesus approved of her worship, but said she was anointing His body beforehand for His burial.

Think of the irony: Mary was rejoicing in Christ's raising her brother from the dead, but in so doing, she was signifying that the Redeemer and Raiser of the dead was Himself about to die and be buried!

The One with all power over death must lay down His Own life! Indeed, Christ's death is the awful price He must pay for our resurrection!

Vignette two: obtaining the colt for Christ to ride upon.