“Being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44).
Places are important to us. Like our homes, however humble but filled with love. Like our churches, whatever their styles but filled with love. Even more so with the places of the passion. Those spots where Jesus suffered and died are important to us because they are filled with the greatest love of all.
What’s going on? What crushes our Savior to the earth in Gethsemane and causes him to beg? What’s this cup he dreads to drink? We know because we’ve heard the answer in other Lenten seasons. That cup was filled with the bitter potion of hell’s punishment for sin. No wonder Jesus turns to his Father pleading, “Take this cup from me.” Sin must be serious. Look at what it does to Jesus. Each of my sins was a drop of poison in that cup. Each one brought drops of blood to Jesus’ scalp.
His love must be serious too. Three times he looked his Father in the eye and asked, “Can I pass?” And when the answer was no, look at Jesus’ response. There was no murmuring against the Father’s will or questioning about the Father’s way. Instead, it was “Not my will, but yours be done.” How Jesus must love his Father to follow that will even to that horrible cross! How Jesus must love me to be willing to do this for a sinner like me! Gethsemane was only an olive tree garden in those days. But I remember it because of Jesus’ wondrous love.
Lord, when my sins give me alarm, show me again your love in Gethsemane’s shadows. Amen.
From Together With Jesus: Daily Devotions for a Year. All rights reserved. Explore the whole book!
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