I found the Easter story as I was reading in Proverbs this morning. I wasn’t looking for it there, nor was I expecting to find it there. But there it was – a verse that so clearly sums up the events of Holy Week. Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
The events leading up to the death and resurrection of Christ are full of man’s plans. His disciples planned for Him to free Israel from the tyranny of Roman rule. (Some of them had already imagined what their place of leadership would be in His kingdom.) The chief priests and scribes planned to find a way to get rid of this man that was such a threat to their established religious rule. Judas had a very specific plan to make a little money on the side by betraying Jesus into the hands of His enemies.
Many were the plans in the hearts of men during that time. To the disciples, it seemed like all their hopes and plans died on that cross along with Jesus. For the chief priest and religious leaders, they watched Jesus die with a sense of achievement and relief. Their plans had won!
But then comes the triumphant resurrection of Jesus! The tomb is empty, and Jesus is alive, and in that moment, we see the glorious reality of God’s purpose prevailing over man’s plans in great power! Man’s plans had not only failed, but God used some of those very plans to bring about His ultimate and eternal purpose.
God’s purpose prevailing is echoed throughout all of Scripture. For many of us, as His children, we’ve seen these words played out in our own lives. But never in the history of the world has there been a more dramatic and glorious demonstration of Proverbs 19:21 than in the resurrection of Jesus. God’s purpose prevailed, despite all the plans of men, and it is that wonderful reality that we celebrate this Easter.
He is Risen!! He is Risen indeed!!
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