Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.” And they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?” And He said to them, “Behold, after you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters. And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there.” And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
Luke 22:7-13
Introduction
Isn’t it amazing how contrary to our natural thinking it is to follow after Jesus? The Passover is one of three pilgrimage festivals commanded in the Law. The other two are Pentecost and the feast of Booths. On these three festivals, all Israelite men were expected to come to Jerusalem to celebrate. In fact, even with the modern state of Israel standing as it is, it is still tradition in many Jewish circles to conclude the Passover celebration with, “next year in Jerusalem,” indicating their status as remaining in diaspora, longing for a return to Israel.
Such an incredible gathering where all these families would flock toward the great City of David would require intense planning. Only just this last year in 2025, my family made two trips from Wisconsin to the coast. The first was to Maine where we visited with my family, and the second was to Florida where we visited with my wife’s family. While each trip was approximately 18 hours of driving, planning and them was very different. That is because of all the other factors involved from highway layout to hotel location to gas availability (and let’s not forget the time hole known as Buc-ee’s).
I have had other trips, too, which involved visiting locations with industry conferences, and it is incredible how expensive flights and hotels become when the demand increases like that.
All that to say: a trip to Jerusalem for the Passover would require planning, expense, and stress. But Jesus and His disciples did not exhibit that. Instead, they had faith.
The faith of Abraham
The great promise to Abraham (here called Abram) takes place in Genesis 12:1-3.
And Yahweh said to Abram, “Go forth from your land, and from your kin and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
This promise was made to Abraham before leaving his home in Mesopotamia (Acts 7:2). And it was this act which the author of Hebrews (11:8-10) attests to his faith:
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise, for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Since we know that to be a son of Abraham, we must have the faith of Abraham, it is not surprising that the disciples trusted Jesus in this matter of going to Jerusalem without any knowledge of where they would stay or how they would eat. In fact, it is quite fitting that they would enter into Jerusalem only to ask Jesus where His plans were. Knowing He is the One who planned all things, it is a trivial matter to wonder where dinner will be held.
God’s provision
Just as God provided for Abraham, causing him to grow in wealth and status, He also provided for the disciples. Jesus told them precisely where to go and how to ask for lodging. He provided the guest room of a man carrying a pitcher of water in the city, fully furnished for the Passover meal.
While we can be confident from passages like Luke 12:22-26 that God will provide for our needs. But this is far more specific, profound, and comforting than that. Yes, God will provide for our needs, but we do not always know what that will look like.
Here, we see that God is faithful to His promises.
That is so much more important than any earthly need you might see as necessary. Because while our struggles in this life are very real, they are also temporary. But He has promised an eternity of joy for those who believe Him, and that is a promise we can be certain He will fulfill.
May the Lord bless you and conform you into the image of His Son.
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