Mary’s Lent Diary (Day 42)
I hardly know what to write… I have just seen Andrew, one of Jesus’ disciples. I know Andrew fairly well but I have never seen him in such a state. He is a big, burly fisherman and yet, just now, he was sneaking around as though scared someone might see him. He kept glancing furtively over his shoulder and whispered throughout our conversation. Well, I say conversation but it was more of a monologue, really. The words just spilled from Andrew…
After they’d celebrated Passover, Jesus and his disciples went to a place called Gethsemane. It is a garden where they often go but, this time, Jesus seemed different. The disciples felt ill at ease. When they got to the garden, Jesus told the disciples to wait for him while he went further off to pray. Well, that was pretty normal, they thought; maybe things would be ok? Then Jesus told Peter, James and John to go with him. Well, that was not so strange, either. Jesus often took those three aside. As they went further from the others, Jesus began to be more and more troubled. Then he told the three of them that he would like them to watch and pray with him, because his ‘soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death’. Then he went a bit further and left the three of them behind, too.
Then Jesus was all alone. Something terrible was about to happen and Jesus was dreading it. My poor boy…and there is nothing I can do. That sword is piercing my soul relentlessly now. Jesus asked God to stop what he was facing if at all possible but that, at the end of the day, it was up to God. Not what Jesus wanted.
Then Jesus went back to the three disciples and found them asleep! Unbelievable. Jesus had asked for their support and look what happened. And it didn’t only happen once. Jesus woke them up then went off again, came back and found them asleep. And again. Three times.
The third time, Jesus told them to get up. Jesus’ betrayer was on the way.
I can hardly believe that I am writing this, but the betrayer was Judas! That’s right, Judas. Who has been with Jesus for 3 years. It seems that Judas values money above loyalty – he had accepted money from the chief priests as payment to betray Jesus.
So Judas, leading an armed mob, went up to Jesus in the garden and kissed him. That was the secret signal that had been arranged to let the mob know which man to arrest. The mob were there with their weapons. I think they’d expected a struggle, but Jesus just said to Judas, ‘do what you came for.’ Actually, he said friend, do what you came for.
And so Jesus was arrested.
And his disciples fled. Which is why Andrew was so worried about being seen. I think he thought he might be arrested, too.
My heart is breaking. I want to see for myself what is going on. Andrew said that they’d taken Jesus to the high priest, so I’ll follow as far as I can, too.
Garden of Gethsemane
The disciples have been following Jesus for about three years now.
In Matthew 4, Jesus called Peter and Andrew to follow Him, and ‘At once they left their nets and followed him.’
Come with Me.
Now, once again, Jesus asks Peter (with James and John) to follow Him.
To go with Him deeper into the garden of Gethsemane.
Come with Me.
No longer is Peter in the ‘initial excitement of following Jesus’ stage.
He’s not leaving his boat behind, in a complete life change.
He did that three years ago.
And still Jesus is saying, ‘Come with Me’.
Jesus still says it you, too.
Come with Me.
Might He be asking you to hear His invitation afresh?
Peter’s life had changed.
Our lives change.
And, in it all, something doesn’t change.
Jesus.
Come with Me.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27
Let’s listen for His voice,
assuring us that He is with us.
Come with Me into your days.
Jesus told the disciples that He was troubled.
He told them He was struggling.
He was real.
Do you have someone you can share things with?
As well as being real and honest with His disciples,
Jesus was real and honest with God.
He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Matthew 26:39
Jesus prayed, ‘If there is any way I can avoid the cross, I’ll take it.’
I don’t want to do this.
Do you have an ‘I don’t want to do this’?
‘I don’t want to be in this situation’?
Have you told God?
Could you meet Him in Gethsemane?
Jesus invitation to Peter is for us, too:
Come with Me into Gethsemane.
We don’t have to do it alone.
As we come before God in our Gardens of Gethsemane,
with all our anguish and raw reality,
- just as Jesus did in His -
God is there.
An angel from heaven appeared to him [Jesus] and strengthened him.
Luke 22:43
I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.Isaiah 41:10b
As Jesus spends time in Gethsemane,
sharing His hard times with God,
His fears don’t disappear.
The cross is still just ahead.
He doesn’t pretend everything is fine.
He doesn’t need to.
And neither do we.
Perhaps we can also follow the rest of Jesus’ example:
I don’t want to do this. But I want what You want more.
Our times are in God’s hands (Psalm 31:15).
Including our Gethsemane times.
It’s a safe place for them to be.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
Following time spent alone with God, Jesus is ready.
Ready to face what is coming.
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.
Isaiah 50:7
And Jesus goes to meet Judas.
He calls him ‘friend’.
Despite everything.
Secure in the centre of God’s will for Him,
Jesus shows kindness where others might not.
How could you do the same today?
Lord Jesus,
Thank You for spending time in Gethsemane.
Please help me have the courage to do the same.
Amen
Mary’s Memo Be Real
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