We are going through a time of darkness caused by the shadow of our Omnipotent God, who stands ever so present, watching and guiding us in the unknown. The unknown is always dark, but He has preserved it for greatness.
It is in the unknown that we experience darkness, but in the hands of a loving God, a God of light, He surrounds Himself so that we are shadowed under His light. We might be going through crucibles and feeling displaced, abused, neglected, sad, depressed—all of the above.
But know this: uncertainty will bring some sort of discomfort, times of darkness, but never fear because our Lord and Savior understands. And how does He understand?
Setting the Scene
Jesus and his disciples went to a place called Gethsemane, which means "oil press," located at the foot of the Mount of Olives. This was a familiar location where Jesus often went to pray.
Jesus' Anguish
In Gethsemane, Jesus began to feel intense sorrow and distress. He told Peter, James, and John, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me. This reveals the depth of Jesus' emotional and spiritual anguish as he faced what was to come.
The Prayer
Jesus went a little farther and fell to the ground, praying. His prayer revealed his struggle:
He asked if it was possible for "this cup" to be taken from him
He submitted to God's will, saying "Yet not as I will, but as you will".
Jesus prayed this prayer three times, showing his deep distress and ultimate submission to God's plan.
The Disciples' Failure
While Jesus prayed, he asked his disciples to keep watch. However, each time he returned to them, he found them sleeping. This highlights the contrast between Jesus' spiritual alertness and the disciples' weakness.
The Spiritual Battle
In Gethsemane, Jesus faced the full weight of what was to come. He was "deeply distressed and troubled" to the point where Luke records that "his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground". This intense suffering was likely due to Jesus confronting the cup of God's wrath against sin that he was about to bear.
The Significance
Gethsemane represents a crucial moment where Jesus, fully God and fully man, wrestled with the enormity of his mission. Despite his desire to avoid the suffering ahead, he chose to submit to God's will, demonstrating both his humanity in his struggle and his divinity in his perfect obedience.
This event in Gethsemane set the stage for Jesus' arrest, trials, and crucifixion, showing his willingness to go through with God's plan for salvation despite the immense personal cost
When He was in Gethsemane, Jesus was walking. He knew that the time was drawing near. He saw darkness for what it was, and although He never sinned, He experienced darkness.
A God of light experienced darkness. That is why God understands when we go through our darkest moments. He understands as Jesus did on His way to Gethsemane.
That's why He said, "If this cup could be removed from me so I don't drink from it." But yet, light was ever present in His darkness.
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