April 2, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in our Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 23 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Week Jesus Dies
Read Sections 5.41 through 5.44 (pages 169-172)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
The intense weight of what was about to happen would be unimaginable to us and we might choose to run, to hide, to go a little crazy knowing our fate around the corner but Jesus chose to pray. Tired and scared He prayed and sweat dropped like blood from His head He prayed so intensely while His disciples could not even stay awake with Him.
Then Judas’ kiss marks the beginning of the end of God’s plan. I imagine such confusion and fear. Such sadness and worry. But also for the disciples realization, and they will start to make sense of Jesus’ words up to this point and figure out what was about to happen. Some ran, some denied, but now all realized Jesus’ purpose was to die.
The apostles all state they will never leave Jesus no Matter what. Talk is cheap. They all scatter when he’s arrested. To think Jesus is in that much agony. As the son of God. The sinless son of God. Taking on ALL sins of all time. To be separated from his father for the first time. But he was separated so that we would never have to be separated. Are there any words!?! Jesus telling Peter to stay awake and pray. We know that Satan tempts us when we are at our weakest. Remember being in the hospital 5 days. Weak and tired and under attack. CAN’T wait to see satan thrown into the lake of fire. Judas. Betrays with a kiss. Hard to comprehend. Here comes the first night court. These so called religious leaders were afraid of arresting Jesus during the day. They did it at night and in haste to see Jesus die before the sabbath. With false witnesses about destroying the temple. Ironically. They are destroying Gods Temple but as Jesus said he would rebuild it in three days. They were playing right into Gods hands. Peter denies Jesus. I suppose if anyone was to ask me, I would not deny. But my life is not in jeopardy. How many times have I not acknowledge him because of fear of man. As I get older. Care less about that. Thank God
The mental anguish that Jesus went through in the garden hit me in a new way in this reading. I know what it is like to be heavy with grief and be troubled in spirt so sleep seems distant…and Jesus just asks his disciples to stay awake too. It is interesting that Jesus went to His Father in prayer and wrestled there with what He would face, and even had angels attend to Him…and yet He still saw as significant the support of His follower friends. And they just couldn’t do it…and although that didn’t share in the realization of what Jesus would go through, they could have identified with Him in it..how important it is for us at times to go deep with people who are suffering, and not just be consumed with what we need. And how hurtful in the midst of all that disappointment, to have one of His disciples betray Him with a kiss. One wonders how bitting Jesus’ words are to Judas..you chose that as the means to identify me?
And who isn’t impressed by Jesus’ composure in the midst of all this. Asking who His attackers are looking for and bowling them over with His words. Correcting Peter on His actions and healing the servants ear. And challenging these temple policemen, why are they arresting Him there and now.? How many of us would be overwhelmed by what was happening and not know what to think or say. And don’t miss the background politics of the High Priest’s father in law getting the first crack at Jesus….the real power behind the symbolic power?
And poor Peter….John has an in with the high priest and Peter is left out in the cold…literally. How challenging it is to stay strong and stand for the truth when you are surrounded by detractors in a potentially (read likely) dangerous situation. We should not model Peter’s weakness here, but we can very much understand it. How comforting that Jesus promised that we would have words to speak given to us when we are brought before authorities. Let’s be willing to speak them when we are cornered and the testifying to our faith is on the line.
Day 23 41-44 I can’t imagine what he was feeling knowing what was to come. The darkness like no other he would experience he even asked God if it was possible for him not to drink from this cup, it says an angel came to help him, and he was so full of pain, he struggled to pray, and sweat dripped from his face like drops of blood. During this time the apostles are sleeping they can’t even stay awake after Jesus had asked them to, and when the time came for Jesus to be arrested with Judas leading the pack and he even had the nerve to kiss Jesus after turning him in. Then Apostles started to fight the men but Jesus told them I must drink from this cup the Father has given me to fulfill what the scripture has said. Then just as Jesus had said earlier the followers all left him, as he was arrested and brought before the high priest, then Peter would deny knowing Jesus as Jesus had predicted.
On lent 2023 day 23
Jesus was in such grief and pain that he shed blood out through his tears. I am not a medical person or a science person but I understand that there is such a condition as this that a person is in such agony that he sheds blood. There is a medical term for it. Does anyone in this reading know what it is/ Jesus pleaded to the Father that this cup would pass him but also was going to do the will of the Father. There is mentioned as kind of a side note that a young man wearing only a linen cloth . That people tried to grab him and he left the cloth in their hands and ran away naked. This account is only mentioned in the book of Mark. This wasn`t important to any of the story line but perhaps only important to Mark. Maybe because he was that person, I have read this. Anyways it doesn`t change anything. So Mark might had been a eyewitness of this. It is believed that Mark wrote the book of Mark through what Peter had told him but he was also a eyewitness of these things. One of the requirements of being allowed in the cannon of scripture.
Dennis, I found this on google:
During His anxious prayer about the events to come, Jesus sweats drops of blood. There is a rare medical condition called hematohidrosis, during which the capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands break down. Blood released from the vessels mixes with the sweat; therefore, the body sweats drops of blood.
Day 22
5.41-5.44
Day 23
5.41-5.44
When Jesus was praying in the garden, the disciples were sleeping. This was the beginning of their abandonment of him while he was in the darkest hours of his life. After he is arrested, all the followers left and ran away. How difficult this must have been for Jesus to have Judas betray him and his friends leave him during this time. Satan was at work to hurt and humiliate him. And Peter denies that he knows Jesus. He wanted to save his own skin rather than stand up for his friend and Lord. Jesus definitely knows how we feel when our friends leave us when we are in the midst of intense suffering.
I wonder what the song was that they were singing.
Jesus’ heart is so very heavy. You really get the sense of His mental, emotional, physical and spiritual anguish. It says an angel came from heaven to help Him. I wonder who saw that? What did the angel do to help Him? So many questions come to mind!