Read
the
Word
Luke 22:39-46
39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[a]
45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
LEARN
and
reflect
Medical science has discovered sweating blood is possible. In times of great stress, the capillaries burst from blood pressure and hemoglobin is forced through sweat pores. Jesus cared so much about doing God's will, that the toll on His body was enough to rupture blood vessels.
He resisted the temptation to do things 'his own way' to the point of shedding blood. Understandably, many of us would rather avoid pain if at all possible, but Jesus saw you as valuable enough to go through what He knew would be horrible pain and suffering. He didn't want to, but He was willing. Here we see Jesus at His most human.
Hebrews 12:4 says "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." We give into sin so easily in comparison. Any time we turn from God's design, there we sin. What began in the garden of Eden, where we turned easily to sin, Jesus changed in another garden: Gethsemane.
The temptation to not care about sin, or to make excuses for it runs deep in our humanity. Is there any behaviour or attitude that you make excuses for?
Is there anything you blame on others that really belongs to you?
Jesus loves you deeply. He paused in the garden accept the reality that change often only comes through willingness to face pain and suffering. Is there a change that you don't to go through?
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Let’s Pray
as One.
God,
it is hard to trust that your purpose is for my good when it leads to pain. I admit that sometimes I make excuses for what I want to do, when really I need to surrender my will and trust you know what you are doing with me.
I confess now that I dont like change. Thank you that you love me and forgive me for my selfishness whenever it crops up. Help me to navigate the pain of obedience, by showing my that you love me. Help me to trust that your purpose in my life will be met through this struggle, just like it was in Jesus.
Amen.