He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. (Luke 22:39-44; NLT)
Whether or not there is an infectious pandemic throughout the world, there is real hope. Hope’s name is Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Followers of Jesus assemble and celebrate the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week, the Lord’s Day, because that’s the day Jesus rose from the dead, evidence that God [the Father] heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God (Hebrews 5:7b, NLT). Sin could not have been defeated without the crucifixion. Death could not have been conquered without Jesus’ resurrection. Both were needed to provide a way to have relief from the horror of the grave (Hebrews 2:14-18). And both would not have occurred without Jesus preceding that history-changing event by humbly wrestling in prayer to His Father.
The following old hymn, first penned as a poem in 1822 and set to music in 1853 captures, at least partially, the atmosphere of that night:
Tis Midnight, and On Olive's Brow
'Tis midnight, and on Olive's brow
The star is dimmed that lately shone;
'Tis midnight, in the garden now
The suffering Savior prays alone.
'Tis midnight, and from all removed
Emmanuel wrestles lone with fears
E'en the disciple whom He loved
Heeds not his Master's grief and tears.
'Tis midnight, and for others' guilt
The Man of Sorrows weeps in blood;
Yet He Who hath in anguish knelt
Is not forsaken by His God.
'Tis midnight, and from ether plains
Is borne the song that angels know;
Unheard by mortals are the strains
That sweetly soothe the Savior's woe.
—Author: William B. Tappan
(Public Domain)
May the peace of Christ be with you!
Preacher Bart