When did we lose the agony of Gethsemane? When was the first time we read Matthew 26, and we yawned? When was the first time we read, "and He began to be sorrowful and troubled," and felt nothing? The scene has been burned in Flannel-Gram on our memory - meek and weak Jesus sniffling in a sunny garden that resembles a Thomas Kincaid painting. And we have no more passion than for our beloved childhood copy of Peter Cottontail. The Easter Bunny sparks about as much excitement as the familiar "let this cup pass from me" passage. When was the first time we saw Gethsemane and we realized we were bored?
I don't know, but it is a horrifying reality. The video below is a song by Matt Papa called "The Crucible of God (Gethsemane)." It portrays no Flannel-Gram Jesus. This is agony. This is suffering. And it was our sin that put Him there. What happened in the garden of Gethsemane?
Ponders Rick Gamache:
And we yawn. Gethsemane was a place of darkness, of wrestling, or horror and betrayal. Jesus bled. Jesus sweat. Jesus fell on His face and cried out to His Father. In a moment of both immense complexity and beauty, Jesus asked if there was another way. But He knew and, in joyful submission, He went.
Matt Papa's song, like few others, draws me to the depth of the agony of Gethsemane. Today, this Friday, this very Good Friday, don't let the familiarity harden you. Gethsemane was emotional and it was messy and it was awful. But it was good. Jesus Christ, the God-man, the One who knew no sin, became sin for us. And that is very good.
I don't know, but it is a horrifying reality. The video below is a song by Matt Papa called "The Crucible of God (Gethsemane)." It portrays no Flannel-Gram Jesus. This is agony. This is suffering. And it was our sin that put Him there. What happened in the garden of Gethsemane?
Ponders Rick Gamache:
(T)he Father held out the cup and Jesus looked in. What he saw there flung him into the throes of agony. ... Jesus lifted his head to the sky and cried out, “I will drink from this cup, Father. I will drink from this cup so that your glory may be vindicated and my name may be glorified. And so that the sheep that you have given me will see our glory and enjoy it forever. I will drink on behalf of our rescue mission.”
Just then, through blurry eyes, Jesus saw the line of torches slithering like a snake up the hill to the garden. The mob arrived. Judas kissed. Friends fled. Soldiers arrested. And Jesus’ world became a swirl of torment and mockery.
And we yawn. Gethsemane was a place of darkness, of wrestling, or horror and betrayal. Jesus bled. Jesus sweat. Jesus fell on His face and cried out to His Father. In a moment of both immense complexity and beauty, Jesus asked if there was another way. But He knew and, in joyful submission, He went.
Matt Papa's song, like few others, draws me to the depth of the agony of Gethsemane. Today, this Friday, this very Good Friday, don't let the familiarity harden you. Gethsemane was emotional and it was messy and it was awful. But it was good. Jesus Christ, the God-man, the One who knew no sin, became sin for us. And that is very good.