There's again a lot packed into Mark's chapter, but I think the thing that jumps out at me as we get closer to Easter is Jesus' prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane. Picking up in verse 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,”[h] 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.”
"My soul is crushed with grief..." Here we see Jesus humanity crying out to God to spare from this suffering, but He then prays, "Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." I can't even begin to imagine how Jesus must have struggled knowing what was ahead. Yet, His sacrifice means eternal life for each of us who will simple receive.
That's definitely the most heart-rending prayer ever, and what I always think about when I consider Jesus' sacrifice. It's just . . . wow.
ReplyDeleteI always puzzle over verses 51 and 52, the young man fleeing naked. I mean, why is that in there?? But I think it must be to show the panic they felt when Jesus was arrested. Their teacher, their rabbi, their WORLD for the past three years--they probably thought him indestructible, despite all his predictions, because of all the times he escaped the religious leaders. But to see him caught . . . I imagine they were out of their minds with fear.
I like the picture of Jesus going to the garden to pray. He didn't need to go to the temple. A garden is such a great setting to go and be with alone with God. I think it is important to gather at church to pray. But, for me, it is also important to take those times alone in a peaceful setting to pray like Jesus did.
ReplyDeleteMark 14
ReplyDelete8b She came to pour perfume on my body before it is placed in a tomb.
Preparation for burial.
13-16 Jesus gives them instructions like He did when He told them where the colt would be tied.
21a The Son of Man is going to die as the Scriptures say he will.
28 But after I am brought back to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.
He tells them ahead what is going to happen.
49 "I used to teach in the temple courtyard every day. But you didn’t arrest me then. But what the Scriptures say must come true.”
50 Then all the disciples abandoned him and ran away.
"Come, follow Me." Why would they leave Him, when they had been with Him during His ministry?
61b Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?
62 Jesus answered, “Yes, I am, and you will see the Son of Man in the highest position in heaven. He will be coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Jesus answers, "Yes, I am."
He is prepared for burial. He tells them what is going to happen. He affirms Who He Is. Would we have heard Him?