In The Garden
Originally scheduled for
March 8
At the Lord’s Supper we are
often told to think upon the suffering our Lord endured for our sake. Have you
ever considered that a part of that suffering was the anticipation of what
would happen?
Consider that night in
Gethsemane. Christ goes to the Father in prayer with a great deal on his mind:
·
Of course, he knows the pain that is coming. Would this not be
made worse by the fact that he did not deserve it? The guilty at least know
why they are suffering – and that they earned it.
·
He is also contemplating his death – often considered the
greatest of human suffering.
·
He knows, too, that the Crucifixion will cause him to be
separated from the Father – severing a relationship both dear and eternal.
·
Finally, he knows he will be betrayed by one disciple, and
abandoned by all the others.
This might seem to
be a little thing to one who is God. But our Lord is also completely human.
In his sorrow he does what human beings do.
·
He takes three of his closest friends with him. In sorrow, do we
want to be alone? The arm of a friend on your shoulder is a great comfort.
·
But he prays alone. Some things are too deeply personal for
anyone but God to hear.
·
So great is his distress and sorrow that he asks his friends to
keep watch – to allow him to put everything into that prayer.
Pain is in the body;
suffering is in the mind. As you partake, remember the agony of anticipation
our Lord suffered – for you.
