Lent 2023 post 11

 Luke 22.39-46

Imagine the grief in the garden

I’m not sure we fully can

Jesus, our sinless Saviour 

Is facing the worst from man

He knows He is facing conviction 

He knows He’ll hang on a cross 

He knows He’ll be ridiculed and hated

And everyone will think He has lost 

The humiliation alone is unthinkable 

He’ll be taunted, insulted, spat upon 

Not just by the crowd of spectators 

But by the priests after all they’ve done 

Yet the humiliation pales in the face of the pain 

Whips and thorns, the pounding of nails 

The weight of His body crushing His lungs 

Accompanied by jeers and yells 

So now He’s alone in the garden 

His disciples have all gone to sleep 

It’s just He and His Father alone now

In an union both mysterious and deep 

Father, may this cup pass from me

But Thy will, not Mine, be done

As daunting as the path before Him 

The Son’s and Father’s wills are to be one 

All this time the disciples still slept 

Exhausted from fatigue and grief 

So though they intended to help Him 

They brought Jesus no human relief 

Oh, may this cup pass from me 

Jesus breathed His pleas again 

God sent an angel to comfort Him 

But affirmed that this was His plan 

So after His prayers in anguish 

Jesus resolutely stood up 

He woke His sleeping disciples 

And prepared to drink His cup 

Alone. No, alone with the Father.  Jesus had taken His three closest friends into the garden with Him, but He went on beyond them to pray. A gentle reminder to us, we need friends when things are hard, but our ultimate strength and comfort come from God. Jesus’s prayer also shows us that we can plead with the Father, that we can be honest about our fears and concerns. We don’t have to pretend with God, He knows our thoughts anyway and prefers authenticity over pretence. Another insight to be garnered, Jesus’s prayer wasn’t answered in an affirmative way. On those times when we plead with God but His answer is no, we shouldn’t be disillusioned with God or feel that there is something wrong in our lives or in our request. Sometimes God has a better, though perhaps harder, plan. In the end, may we spend our time with God seeking to align our wills with His. Then may we, like Jesus, arise, resolute to walk on the path God has chosen.

Lord Jesus, I can’t imagine the depth of Your anguish as You faced what was about to happen to You. In Your agony, You went straight to the Father. Remind me to do that when I am sad, confused, scared, or grieved. And may I, like You, seek the Father’s will and be willing to submit to it. May I find my peace in You. Amen.