The Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36)The 3rd day into NT30. Reading from Matt 24 to 28 and Acts 1 to 4
Jesus came with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane. (Matt 26:36). He dismissed His disciples and entered into the garden to pray. All alone.
There is a Gethsemane for every believer. In that garden, no one enters with you but you alone. It is a place of tension, pain and brokenness. Yet this is a necessary place for every disciple and no one is exempted from it. This is a place of preparation, a place of recharging, a place of connection, a place of intense prayers. It demands much dependance on the Father. It calls for the self to die and the Spirit to arise.
Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane with a heavy heart. He poured His heart out to the Father, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me..." (v39). Jesus' sorrow was beyond words. The task ahead to the road of Calvary is intense, immeasurable painful and hard to endure. "If it is possible....let it pass." Jesus said.
Many times, I said the same prayer in my Garden of Gethsemane. "Father, if this is possible, let it pass." I find myself left with little strength, courage and little faith to endure. I am afraid, vulnerable and helpless.
Yet, Jesus never stopped from that statement. There is a continuality to that statement. "...nevertheless, not as I will but as You will' (v39)
This is the call for every disciple of Christ - His will to be done, not mine. If this is expected of Jesus, how then we expect this to be exempted from our walk with Him. Haven't we understood enough, "I am here to do the will of God."
Yes, easier said than done. But not impossible. Jesus is the greatest example. It is comforting to know that Jesus had entered His Garden of Gethsemane and walked the same path. Being there before gives me great comfort to know and embrace a Saviour that identifies and understands all that I am going through and facing. His presence is all sufficient.
Jesus poured His heart out before the Father. Knowing that the task before Him is great, He needed that power, prayers and silence before His Father. I faced simialr situations many times. The greater and more intense is the battle and ministry demands, I needed more silence before the Father. And especially, that is 'my Gethsemane' and none could enter.
Nevertheless, there is a Saviour that had onced entered that Gethsemane. And because He did, He enables and empowers me to do the same. That gives me strength, confidence and faith to do the same. The same Saviour that says. "not my will Father, but Yours be done." allow me to uttered the same with humble boldness.
Jesus walked out from the garden of Gethsemane, filled with the Spirit, clothed with courage and confidence. All ready to face the tasks ahead, including all the trials, mocking, torture, humilation and His crucifixation. Not a moment of defeat and losing courage that we see in Jesus.
I yearned for the same. I am in my garden of Gethsemane. My heart is burden and heavy. I am lacking of strength and courage. And I am alone, yet not alone, cos My Jesus is with me.
When we think of life and ministry hardest battles, we cannot use the 'leftovers'. I must continue to be clear with the Word of God, true to the will of God and faithful and pressing on in regards to the work of God.
In preparation for the long haul, I need to commit to the Lord afresh each day.
In my Garden of Gethsemane, I met Him there. And I can say as He said, "Let Your will be done."
All glory to Jesus, my Saviour King.
Jesus came with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane. (Matt 26:36). He dismissed His disciples and entered into the garden to pray. All alone.
There is a Gethsemane for every believer. In that garden, no one enters with you but you alone. It is a place of tension, pain and brokenness. Yet this is a necessary place for every disciple and no one is exempted from it. This is a place of preparation, a place of recharging, a place of connection, a place of intense prayers. It demands much dependance on the Father. It calls for the self to die and the Spirit to arise.
Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane with a heavy heart. He poured His heart out to the Father, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me..." (v39). Jesus' sorrow was beyond words. The task ahead to the road of Calvary is intense, immeasurable painful and hard to endure. "If it is possible....let it pass." Jesus said.
Many times, I said the same prayer in my Garden of Gethsemane. "Father, if this is possible, let it pass." I find myself left with little strength, courage and little faith to endure. I am afraid, vulnerable and helpless.
Yet, Jesus never stopped from that statement. There is a continuality to that statement. "...nevertheless, not as I will but as You will' (v39)
This is the call for every disciple of Christ - His will to be done, not mine. If this is expected of Jesus, how then we expect this to be exempted from our walk with Him. Haven't we understood enough, "I am here to do the will of God."
Yes, easier said than done. But not impossible. Jesus is the greatest example. It is comforting to know that Jesus had entered His Garden of Gethsemane and walked the same path. Being there before gives me great comfort to know and embrace a Saviour that identifies and understands all that I am going through and facing. His presence is all sufficient.
Jesus poured His heart out before the Father. Knowing that the task before Him is great, He needed that power, prayers and silence before His Father. I faced simialr situations many times. The greater and more intense is the battle and ministry demands, I needed more silence before the Father. And especially, that is 'my Gethsemane' and none could enter.
Nevertheless, there is a Saviour that had onced entered that Gethsemane. And because He did, He enables and empowers me to do the same. That gives me strength, confidence and faith to do the same. The same Saviour that says. "not my will Father, but Yours be done." allow me to uttered the same with humble boldness.
Jesus walked out from the garden of Gethsemane, filled with the Spirit, clothed with courage and confidence. All ready to face the tasks ahead, including all the trials, mocking, torture, humilation and His crucifixation. Not a moment of defeat and losing courage that we see in Jesus.
I yearned for the same. I am in my garden of Gethsemane. My heart is burden and heavy. I am lacking of strength and courage. And I am alone, yet not alone, cos My Jesus is with me.
When we think of life and ministry hardest battles, we cannot use the 'leftovers'. I must continue to be clear with the Word of God, true to the will of God and faithful and pressing on in regards to the work of God.
In preparation for the long haul, I need to commit to the Lord afresh each day.
In my Garden of Gethsemane, I met Him there. And I can say as He said, "Let Your will be done."
All glory to Jesus, my Saviour King.
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