Thursday, June 18, 2009

Gethsemane

The Christ "began to be sorrowful and troubled" (Matt 26:37) as He went to a place called Gethsemane. He looked at the "cup" he was to drink and the distress was overwhelming. This man...this God....this man beheld the fiery of God's wrath in a more immediate sense than he had up to this point and he sweat blood. My goodness.... he sweat blood thinking of what he was to endure; "he fell to the ground" (Mk 14:35) pondering the weight! What did his divine mind's eye see? What caused the theo-anthropos such unthinkable anguish?

The Captain of my salvation "began to be sore amazed and to be very heavy" Mark (14:33) as he peered over the consuming fire, the place where he would utter "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?" My Lord....my savior.....oh my Christ..... what did you see......what did you see!? What could possibly cause you to ask this cup to pass?

My Prince of Glory "being in agony he prayed more earnestly". (Luke22:44) What does this mean? What suffering was he swimming in at the very thought of the torment soon to be upon him? Help me to understand this solemn truth and worship Jesus!

The King beheld his decided destiny and took the cup and drank it. Why did he do it, what emotion, what unction caused him to drink every last drop? It was love. It was "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross". (Heb 12:2) The love for his bride, and the joy of their redemption.

Words can't paint the feelings this historical seen causes me to experience when I, by grace, embrace it.