Gethsemane

The garden at Gethsemane, is located on a slope of the Mount of Olives just across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem. A garden of ancient olive trees stands there to this day. Jesus frequently went to Gethsemane with His disciples to pray.  John 18:2  "Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples."  The most famous events at Gethsemane occurred on the night before His crucifixion when Jesus was betrayed. Of course, the most important impact of this night was the willingness of our Savior to die on the cross in our place in order to pay the penalty for our sins. God “made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” 2 Corinthians 5:21  This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I pray I am not out of bounds with this blog.  God sees my heart and He knows I only want to glorify Him.  I began to think about the anguish Christ faced at that final hour before His sacrifice of service for our sins.  He was about to glorify God, with a greater glory than this world has ever known.  It was at this time Christ asked  "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done."  It was at this time he faced tremendous temptation, heartache, and yes maybe even questioned if He should follow through. Jesus suffered in agony over this.  "He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground."  Would this Son of God, who always enjoyed rich fellowship with his Father, now choose freely to become sin and bear the guilt of all? In John 8:29 Jesus said, “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” Would he choose to be alone, desolate, forsaken, and abandoned? Would he choose to be forsaken especially of his Father, whose fellowship he cherished as the Son of God?  Yes, Jesus was faithful, followed through and stayed true to God's will. God's will - say that out loud. Are we choosing our will over God's will?   In our lives, when we choose to put our own personal desires aside for the glory of God we will also face doubt, temptation to do things our way, heartache and question if we should move forward.  Be sure of this, Satan doesn't want you serving God or doing anything to bring Him glory. He cringes at the thought of you doing anything that will bring others to a relationship with Him.  Just as he attacked our Savior, he will attack you. Serving God might not always be the easiest way but it is the best way.  I know I will never sweat drops of blood as my Savior did - but there has been many an occasion and will continue to be when I have heartaches, temptations, and question or fear my step of faith. 

Kenny Anderson wrote "Craziness to think what all Christ went through to bring us back into relationship with God. Thank you Jesus that you were brave enough, obedient, and self-sacrificing!"  When the going gets tough & you are struggling in your own Gethsemane - look to Christ - choose bravery, obedience and seek God's will always.