March 21, 2024
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 32 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Week Jesus Dies
Read Sections 5.41 through 5.42 (pages 169-171)
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.
Always hard to read the account of Jeus’ time in Gethsemane. The grief and pain He was experiencing knowing what was to come. The desire to not have to do it and yet the stronger desire to serve His Father and complete the plan for salvation in which He would pay the ultimate price.
I was thinking of the disciples unable to stay awake during this time. They must have seen the pain He was in and heard His cries. How often are we caught up in ourselves that we don’t see the pain others are facing. How often are we asleep when we should be coming alongside others in their time of need.
And then the betrayal happens, Judas kiss and so it begins. The pain, suffering, and ultimate death of our Savior and He so willingly goes knowing His fate, knowing all the extra torment He will endure for us….overwhelming love.
Amen, Kelly…great thoughts!
I wonder what song they were singing. I’d like to hear that song.
It has always struck me where Jesus says, “who are you looking for?” And when He says, “I am He”, the soldiers fall backwards to the ground. A demonstration of His power and authority.
In my study in Ezekiel, I am at place where God is so angry, He is going to make Israel and Judah drink the cup of His wrath. Jesus drank the cup of Gods wrath for us. I can see why He is so filled with grief, and sweating blood as He prays to the Father asking if there is another way.
But He drank it.
5.41 Jesus Prays Alone (Matt 26:30, Matt 26:36-39, Luke 22:43-44, Matt 26:40-46) Interesting that this ERV translation chooses to leave out Matt 26:31-35, but it’s probably because it had already covered the foretelling of Peter’s denial in a previous section. But, I find verse 31 especially compelling…”Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” Jesus is quoting Zechariah 13:7 here…and what is so amazing is that He constantly quoted and referenced Scripture to explain why what was happening had to happen. Additionally, the constant falling asleep of the disciples is used by Jesus to provide teaching for all those who would come to believe in Him through their ministry. Jesus’ words in verse 41, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Those words remind me of Romans chapter 7 where Paul writes “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” Jesus knows that His disciples have the “spirit” to do what is right, to remain awake with Him in His hour of prayer…but their flesh is weak. It is so necessary to acknowledge that His disciples had not yet received the Helper, the Holy Spirit! That is why Paul can then declare in Romans 7:25, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.” which could maybe seem as though Paul is saying we are still in bondage to the law of sin in our flesh…but that is why we keep reading into glorious Chapter 8!! 🙂 “For the Spirit of Life has set you FREE in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”! (Romans 8:2)
The last thought I have on this passage is how Luke’s account indicates that Jesus was so intensely praying to His Father for help to endure what was set before Him, that He sweat drops of blood. It makes me think of Hebrews 12:4 “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” There are lots of ways to shed our blood of course…but the fact that Jesus shed blood while praying to the Father for help stands as a powerful example to me. For we know that Jesus is without sin…but we also know that He endured temptation. Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in EVERY RESPECT has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” So, I find the example of Christ in the garden so important in helping me know that I have a Savior who has experienced every single thing I have experienced…and who has given me His very Spirit to dwell within me, to help me, and to conform me into the image of Christ, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers (and sisters). (Romans 8:29)
5.42 Jesus is Arrested (John 18:2-3, Matt 26:48-49, Luke 22:48, John 18:4-9, Mark 14:46, John 18:10, Luke 22:51, John 18:11, Matt 26:52, John 18:11, Matt 26:53-56, Mark 14:51-52) I love that after Jesus has spent His time in deep, powerful, prayer…when the hour is at hand to go and accomplish the work set before Him by the Father…He is an absolute image of strength, peace, assurance, and confidence. He has been ministered to by the Father, indeed by angels, and having been given strength, rises now to accomplish what He came to do. May we all take encouragement from His example…thank you Lord for your Word!
The Life of Jesus 5.41-5.42
The Life of Jesus 5.41-5.42
It’s probably safe to say most of us have been in a situation where we were so anxious we couldn’t sleep. To see Jesus going through a similar emotion but taking that time to pray is especially powerful.
I also saw a clip from an episode of “Pints with Aquinas” on YouTube with Dr. John Bergsma where he talked about how the verses about the boy with the linen cloth who ran away naked was actually Mark himself as a teenager and the verse is a sort of self-insert.
Great comments brothers and sisters. Not much that I can add. Jesus was so intense in His praying that He shed blood. What I understand is this that according to medical science a person can shed blood when he is in such agony. As Amy stated Jesus was to take the wrath of God upon Himself and He knew it. It was so bad while He was praying that God sent an angel to minister to Him. When Jesus is being taken away; Peter tries to protect Jesus and cuts off the right ear of the high priest`s servant. Jesus immediately heals the servant`s ear. Jesus is not thinking of Himself here even though He is in much pain. But He is not only thinking of the servant but of His disciples. He not only calls out to those who are arresting Him to leave His disciples alone but is also sparing His disciples from being killed. He says to Peter to stop for those who use swords will die by the sword. John is the only account that names Peter as the one who used his sword to cut off the servants ear. While Luke is the only account that Jesus heals the servants ear. John is also the one who says that the servant`s name is Malchus because he knew who he was. In John`s account he makes mention of Peter and another disciple which we believe was John, himself. After Jesus was brought to the palace he followed Jesus into the palace because he was known to the high priest. He also spoke for Peter to allow him in. John 18: 15-16. John is the only one that records this detail so that is why it is believed that he is that disciple. Also when John talks about himself it is the third person. Another thing is mentioned when Jesus is arrested is that of a young man who followed Jesus after all the disciples fled. Those that saw him laid hold on him and he fled naked. Mark is the only one that records this so he probably was that young man. Mark 14: 51-52. It wouldn`t be important to anyone else unless he was that young man. Anyways sometimes it is important to know the little things. God bless all that love Jesus.
Awesome comments.!! What a great way to feed the spirit. Always taken back by Jesus calling Judas friend. Do what you have come to do.
What a powerful insight we receive into the life of Jesus here as we see Him struggling with the Father’s will that He would suffer what He did. And yet Jesus submits and says your will be done. How helpful that is to all of us to know that Jesus’ obedience to the Father did not come easy nor was it forced or supernaturally empowered (beyond the Holy Spirit in Him). Jesus had to use His will to choose, leaving a model for us to know that our obedience will have to come from our will and that may not come without a struggle or heartache. But we were part of the joy set before Him that helped Him endure the cross. How amazing, humbling and the greatest expression of love and commitment to a mission that ONLY He could accomplish this is. Other than that, so much weakness, evil and corruption that surrounds this noble act. I love how Jesus shows the injustice of what is happening here to say, why are you arresting me at this time, in this way and at this place. And yet all goes according to the word and plan. And Jesus is settled and staid in the midst.
The Life of Jesus 5.41-5.42.