I read the passage below today, and just cried all the way through it. There is so much about this passage that breaks my heart. Looking at verses 33-34, Jesus took his closest friends with him and asked them to stay with him and pray with him, for HE knew what was coming even though they didn't. And it breaks my heart at the mere idea that his "soul was CRUSHED WITH GRIEF to the point of death." He's begging, "Friends, PRAY with me! Be with me in this moment!"
Then we move on to Jesus's actual prayer in verse 36. "Father, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE FOR YOU! PLEASE TAKE THIS CUP of suffering away from me!! Yet I want YOUR WILL to be done, not mine!"
The passion behind it!! The brokenness of his heart knowing what needed to be done, yet wishing there was any other way.
He comes up from this prayer, only to find his friends sleeping. The pain and disappointment he must have felt at that. Needing his friends' prayers and support so much, and they let him down.
He asks them again, "Keep watch and PRAY!" Saying, "My spirit is willing, but my body is weak." He needs all of God's strength to overcome the fear of the flesh placed upon him, at the things he knew he was about to face. His soul completely willing to do what needed to be done, but experiencing the weakness that came with his earthly body. (The weakness, you and I know all too well!)
He leaves and prays again, that same passionate prayer, and then returned to find them sleeping again. They don't even have words to give him because they know in their hearts they've let him down. There's no excuse good enough to answer for their lack of faithfulness during that time.
Then just moments later, the time he feared and dreaded so much had come. And there was no more time to pray or change the path of his destiny. It had been decided, and it would come to pass.
I felt his heart today as I read these verses again, and it was broken and desperate, and just longing for the closeness and support from those he held so dear. It hurt to read this, it hurt to see him so alone in his greatest time of need. And it hurt knowing that the pain that "CRUSHED his soul with GRIEF" was over knowing what he had to do... for the sake of me... as well as the sake of all mankind because he loved us all that much that he was willing to walk this path and bear that cup for us.
Praise you, Lord Jesus, I don't have adequate words, just humble adoration to offer. THANK YOU for your love and sacrifice you've given to me, and that you offer to all. I pray that no one that hears this will refuse the gift you've given to them; that cost you more than any other person in this world would be willing to pay and brings more joy and peace than anything else in this world could provide. Amen!
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
32 They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. 34 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
35 He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. 36 “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
37 Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 38 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
39 Then Jesus left them again and prayed the same prayer as before. 40 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. And they didn’t know what to say.
41 When he returned to them the third time, he said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But no—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”
Mark 14:32-42
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
How did that get in there?
Evidently there is controversy of John 7:53-8:11 or better known as the story about the adulteress woman who was about to be stoned to death, and Jesus said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
Did you know that there was question about the validity of these verses being placed in the Bible? I didn't, and when I was reading this morning, I noticed a special notation in my Study Bible that sent me on a hunt for the background of what's really going on here.
In my NIV Study Bible, listed before these verses is a notation that says, "The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53-8:11."
So, I sat back and went, "HUH?!" Because I feel like this is one of those REALLY well known stories of Jesus' works while he was on the earth.
From what I've found, I think it's safe to still consider this as a Biblical truth, but I think it's very likely that it wasn't actually written by John. Could have been, but I think, it's just not known for sure where this piece was derived though there is high confidence that it came from one of the apostles.
I'm attaching a link that I felt was very thorough in its explanation behind these verses, and they quoted this one verse from John that made me giggle:
"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." John 21:25 (NIV) :)
Also, I checked my other versions of the Bible that I have in my house, and my KJV did not have this notation. I appreciate at least having the notation that this piece may or may not be included correctly. If we are going to take the Bible for what it says, we need to understand as best as we can the origins of the things we've placed in it.
Here's the link that I told you about:
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