Mark 14:32-36
Gethsemane is one of those fun names to have preschoolers say in Kid’s Church. It’s cute to hear their tiny voices attempt such a big word. It’s important for them, and all Christians, to know this place because it’s where some big stuff went down.
Amid olive trees, Jesus prayed and laid out his heart, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow” (v. 34) -a powerful image. Christ is deeply distressed and troubled. His friends are with him, but they are of little comfort. He asks them to keep watch, but they fall asleep and miss it.
God doesn’t miss it. He sees Jesus, just as He sees each of us. When we too are deeply distressed and troubled, He sees us down on our knees begging for mercy, love, guidance, hope, peace.
The key to what happened at Gethsemane is that Jesus ended his prayer with “Yet not what I will, but what you will” (v. 36). Man, that’s tough to say. “Not what I want, but what you want.” I mean, I’ve said it, but did I really mean it? Jesus REALLY meant it. It wasn’t his desire to be nailed to a cross, but he knew God’s plan and that He was the one to fulfill it.
Maybe that’s why it’s hard for many of us to follow Jesus in that way. We don’t know God’s will for us. We feel scared and alone, even when we have others by our side. Jesus knew he wasn’t alone. Do we know that? Do we stop at the garden before the crisis and ask God about his plan for our lives? Spending time in relationship with Him will help us understand where He’s coming from and where this is all headed. And even if we don’t understand, may He give us the courage to let go of what we want and trust in His will.
Showing posts with label Gethsemane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gethsemane. Show all posts
Friday, July 6, 2018
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Ash Wednesday
God On the Move Lenten Devotional Ash Wednesday
1 March
Stations of the Cross
Ever since Jesus died and rose again, believers have been finding ways to reflect on Jesus’ journey from the Last Supper, to the Cross, to the Empty Tomb. Some of the earliest Christians were able to visit these sites and reflect on Christ’s amazing sacrifice. Even today, people travel to Jerusalem to “walk in the footsteps of Christ.” Although an incredible experience, it’s not practical to make that kind of annual pilgrimage to honor Jesus. Instead, we may enter into each stop or station of Christ’s journey by bringing those images to our homes and churches.
This year, UALC is utilizing an illustrated version of the Stations of the Cross based on specific verses from the Gospels. They are designed to be interactive and spark conversation amongst us, so together we may appreciate and celebrate that He is risen. He is risen indeed!
Station 1: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-41)
Jesus spent the night before He died with His friends at the Last Supper. He was very sad because He knew that one of His friends, Judas Iscariot, would tell lies about Him, and then turn Him over to be arrested. After dinner, Jesus took His three closest friends—Peter, James, and John—with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. But Peter, James, and John couldn’t even stay awake with Jesus while He prayed.
Station 2: Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Arrested (Mark 14:43-46)
When you betray a friend you hurt them by telling a lie about them. Judas was one of the twelve apostles, and one of Jesus’ friends. But he also betrayed Jesus by lying to the priests and police about who Jesus was. The priests gave Judas thirty pieces of silver in return for betraying Jesus. While Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas showed the soldiers where He was. Because Judas told lies about Jesus, Jesus was arrested.
Read and reflect on the passages.
1. What do you notice about Jesus’ experience in the Garden of Gethsemane? Why does it drive Him to tears?
2. Jesus commanded His disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” What can we learn from this?
3. If Jesus is innocent of all sin, why was He arrested?
—david white
1 March
Stations of the Cross
Ever since Jesus died and rose again, believers have been finding ways to reflect on Jesus’ journey from the Last Supper, to the Cross, to the Empty Tomb. Some of the earliest Christians were able to visit these sites and reflect on Christ’s amazing sacrifice. Even today, people travel to Jerusalem to “walk in the footsteps of Christ.” Although an incredible experience, it’s not practical to make that kind of annual pilgrimage to honor Jesus. Instead, we may enter into each stop or station of Christ’s journey by bringing those images to our homes and churches.
This year, UALC is utilizing an illustrated version of the Stations of the Cross based on specific verses from the Gospels. They are designed to be interactive and spark conversation amongst us, so together we may appreciate and celebrate that He is risen. He is risen indeed!
Station 1: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-41)
Jesus spent the night before He died with His friends at the Last Supper. He was very sad because He knew that one of His friends, Judas Iscariot, would tell lies about Him, and then turn Him over to be arrested. After dinner, Jesus took His three closest friends—Peter, James, and John—with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. But Peter, James, and John couldn’t even stay awake with Jesus while He prayed.
Station 2: Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Arrested (Mark 14:43-46)
When you betray a friend you hurt them by telling a lie about them. Judas was one of the twelve apostles, and one of Jesus’ friends. But he also betrayed Jesus by lying to the priests and police about who Jesus was. The priests gave Judas thirty pieces of silver in return for betraying Jesus. While Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas showed the soldiers where He was. Because Judas told lies about Jesus, Jesus was arrested.
Read and reflect on the passages.
1. What do you notice about Jesus’ experience in the Garden of Gethsemane? Why does it drive Him to tears?
2. Jesus commanded His disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” What can we learn from this?
3. If Jesus is innocent of all sin, why was He arrested?
—david white
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