In this passage
we see some of the final moments of Jesus’ life. Jesus had just eaten His last
meal with His disciples and chose to go to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray (v
39). Jesus knew what was about to happen. He knew that, being fully human, He
could not bear the cross on His own. We all face circumstances that are too
much for us to properly bear on our own. In these times we should look to Jesus
as our role model. We should pour out our hearts to God. It is even okay to ask
God to take away difficult circumstances, so long as we are willing to endure
if He does not take them away (v 42). It is in this garden that Jesus was
betrayed (v 47). Jesus bore His betrayal and trial process brilliantly. He spoke
only when necessary, using brief and truthful words (v 48, 51-53, 67-70). He
knew when to speak and when to remain silent. He graciously accepted His fate,
knowing that God would make Him victorious in the end. Jesus modeled how we can
let God be our justifier. Jesus knew that He was blameless, but He chose to
trust in God rather than fighting back. What a wonderful model for us.
Journaling and Prayer
1. Place
yourself in Jesus’ shoes in the Garden of Gethsemane. You just had your last
meal with your closest friends. You know that you are about to face an
agonizing death and your flesh cries out against this. Yet, you know that,
because of your death, an indescribable good will come. You love people more
than they’ll ever understand and you long to be reconciled to them. You wished
there was another way, but are willing to do whatever it takes to win people
back. How do you feel? What are your thoughts? Write down what you’re
imagining. Ask Jesus to use this exercise to reveal to you how He felt as He
approached the Cross. Spend some time responding to this. Praise God for His
great love!
2. Jesus
didn’t defend Himself. The key to this was His trust in God. Jesus knew that
God had a larger plan, which in the end would reveal Jesus’ blamelessness.
Sometimes God’s plan for our lives includes events and seasons that seem wrong
to us. But He knows the end from the beginning. God knows how each situation is
intended for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His
purposes (Romans 8:28). Search your heart. Do you trust God? Is He your
defender or do you feel the need to justify yourself? Ask Him to show you how
to grow in this area.
3. Pray
for believers around the world who face persecution for their faith. Pray that
they would fully trust God to be their justifier. Pray that God would
continually strengthen their faith. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower them to be
blameless before their persecutors. Ask that they would be able to love and
forgive instead of harbouring bitterness.
