The Garden of Sorrow
John 18:1-6
"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray.'"
(MATTHEW 26:36)
Matthew 26 is the great turning point in the ministry of Jesus. "His hour" had come. He had commanded sickness to cease, demons to flee and storms to be calm. His life had been uniquely victorious. Now the needy crowds would go to the wayside as He fixed His eyes on the cross, soon being "delivered into the hands of sinful men [to] be crucified..." (Luke 24:7).
He chose to prepare Himself in the garden of Gethsemane. In this garden of sorrow, He faced the greatest challenge that anyone has ever faced. The sinless Son of God would give His life for sinners. He knew that He would conquer death, but the cross still lay in front of Him.
Although the Christian life is full of celebration and victory, sometimes we find ourselves in our own garden of sorrow. Even the promise of heaven does not make it go away. But what Jesus accomplished does banish our sorrow. He faced it all by saying, "may your will be done." Let's do likewise. Becoming like Him in sorrow means we will rise like Him in victory.
INSIGHT
IT'S NOT EASY TO SAY "MAY YOUR WILL BE DONE" DURING TIMES OF SORROW, BUT THOSE ARE THE TIMES WHEN WE REALLY MEAN IT.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
2 Samuel 13-14
Psalm 142
1 Thessalonians 1-2
John 18:1-6
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
Jesus Arrested
18 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
ABOVE ALL
with Paul Baloche
Have you ever seen the hand of the Lord move in your life? If you have put your faith in Christ, you can be sure that there are at least nine ways that His hand is at work in you!
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