* Roman Philosopher Seneca predicts the water will have little impact on the economy.
* British Prime Minister Lord North 1774 on rebellion in the 13 U.S. colonies.  “4 or 5 frigates will do the business without any military force.”
* Lord Kelvin 1900 “There is nothing new to be discovered in physics now; all that remains is more & more precise measurement.”
* Captain Smith of the Titanic “I cannot conceive of any vital disaster happening to this vessel.  Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that.”

Predicting the future is really, really hard to do.  In fact, in any kind of detailed and meaningful way, God is the only one who knows what is going to happen. When God in Christ walked the dusty roads of 1st C. Judea – he accurately predicted the future many, many times.  

1.    He Knows Later On Today (Mark 14: 12-17)
The instructions Jesus gives to 2 disciples about finding a place to celebrate the Passover meal are so specific. On a human level that is impossible for one person to know and stage every detail. This is direct, plain evidence that Jesus could predict the future b/c he is in very nature God.
If you say, “I just need to get through this day – I live life one day at a time,” then this is the passage for you. Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen for himself and his 12 disciples that day.  Jesus does the same for you and me.

Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 6:31-34 declares “So do not worry… But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow.”
This should change how we go to work with complaining, grumpy or lazy co-workers. This should change how we go through potentially hard things like a visit to the oncologist to hear our cancer diagnosis. Even though we acknowledge Jesus knows the future, we still worry a lot. 

Why do you think worry and anxiety are rampant today?

Does the assurance that Jesus knows each of our days before we begin them change your perspective?

2.    He Knows the Problem & the Solution (Mark 14:18-26)
 Jesus is leading his disciples in the Passover Seder meal. Luke’s account mentions the separate distinct cups of wine, the unleavened bread etc.   John’s account tells us the seating order – Judas was next to Jesus on his left and John was on his right. The Passover recounts the greatest salvation in the first half of the Bible - The Exodus. Each plague was a direct defeat of one of the gods or goddesses that the Egyptians worshipped.  Pharaoh was considered a god as well so the 10th and final plague – the killing of the 1st born son showed that Pharaoh was powerless to stop God from rescuing his people.  God provided a way out though – anyone who slaughtered a pure spotless lamb and painted the blood on the doorposts of their homes would be spared.  Jesus perfectly fulfils that first image of salvation – most blatantly when John the Baptist first sees him and declares him to be “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  When Jesus led that part of the Passover meal it would have been extremely poignant and emotional.  Jesus predicts Judas’ betrayal and in 4 incredible actions – gives him a last second chance to do a 180° turnaround.  He washes the feet of all the disciples and declares one of them unclean – appealing to Judas’ conscience. Jesus uses the reference to Psalm 49:1 to warn Judas of his impending doom should he fail to repent. Jesus sat him on his left a place of honour and easy conversation. Finally, Jesus picked up the culture of the day and invited Judas to dip a morsel of the bread into the common dish as a final declaration of friendship. Judas rebuffed all 4 actions. 

Why do you think Judas betrayed Jesus? 
We have the same choice – turnaround and accept forgiveness or stubbornly refuse Jesus’ offer.   Where are you at in your spirit today?


3.    He Knows Our Worst & Our Best (Mark 14:27-31)
Jesus predicts Peter’s 3 denials. Peter insists in the most extreme way, beyond what anyone usually does, “Even if I should die with you, I will never deny you or disown you.”   It almost makes what Peter would go on to do in those hours just before dawn broke that much worse. For good measure our passage ends with, “and all the others said the same.” YEAH RIGHT. Peter deny’s before the rooster crows 3x and the rest of the disciples run away faster than a bunch of Olympic sprinters. Jesus knows the future and predicts that his closest followers of friends would be at their absolute worst. Yet he still goes to the cross, still dies for them and still redeems them. Jesus also knew what they would become on the other side – absolute world changers who are known and celebrated by over 2 Billion Christians on planet earth today.

Why don’t we believe that Jesus does the same for us? 

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