I struggle reading parts of the Bible. I don’t mean Leviticus or Judges. I’m talking Jesus’ crucifixion. It’s like I’m there on the cross, with Him. My sins are there, for sure, but I find my heart there, as well. Lent, in itself, is okay—doing soul prep, the self-inspection thing. I’m even fasting from my 92% dark-chocolate square and homemade no-sugar oatmeal bar!
That meal in the upper room started the grief, the disciples at their peak of stupidity.
Philip: “Show us the Father; that’ll be enough.”
Jesus, pain choking his voice: “Don’t you KNOW me, Philip, after all this time?”
Peter: “You’ll never wash MY feet!”
Peter again: “Why can’t I follow? I’d lay down my life for you!”
Judas took the piece of bread…and it was night.
Alexander Whyte, an old Scottish pastor, writes about Jesus’ night in Gethsemane (edited):
Jesus: “My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry here, and watch.”
We cannot wade into the waves of woe that washed over His soul that night. He trod the winepress alone; the others slept. Only one thing could do this: SIN. He had seen sin cause men—made in the image of God—to be prey, spoil, the companions of devils, but it was a new thing to our Lord to have all that poured upon Himself. It sickened and slew Him, down to death and hell. The utter stupefaction of soul, seeing hell opening and pouring up its bottomless wickedness all over His soul. It was SIN that agonized His soul—not His approaching death. He met death with a security of soul that confounded the Roman centurion. It was not death: it was SIN. A terror and a horror at Himself took possession of our Lord’s soul when He was made sin.
Picture your sins, all of them, packed side by side, forming one filthy blob. Now picture yourself laying that blob on Jesus, there in Gethsemane.
Can any of us wonder at Jesus’ agony that dreadful night?
Tony Campolo’s line in his most-famous sermon, applies to Good Thursday, as well:
“It’s Friday…but Sunday’s coming!
How are you affected by this terrible prelude to Easter?
Please leave your comments below, or email me at egus@me.com.
I’d love to hear from you.
The horror of sin and death being placed on Jesus has such a visceral effect on me…physically as well as mentally. The amazing part of this story is that Christ didn’t do this for himself, because after all He was perfect. He did it for me, you, everyone out there.
Oh, what a wonderful Savior!
Thank you for posting this my dear Ellie ♥️
Kindred spirits, Dotty. We respond in our real but imperfect way to Jesus’ suffering. Thank you so much!
I am truly thankful and humbled by our Lord’s sacrifice. I think back on the years that I was sure I alone was in control of my life. How prideful I was! The wretched and lost. He saves all, hallelujah!
Hallelujah, indeed, Tess! Because Jesus went through all this, WE HAVE HOPE!
Thank you, Elie,
Very moving.
Lowell
Thanks mucn, Lowell. I did a lot of crying over this one.
Ellie