”Jesus. Here we sit. In the Garden of Gethsemane. Wow. I can’t stop thinking about what it must have been like for you that night. I cannot know. I cannot begin to comprehend the agony. But my Jesus, sitting in garden, I feel your love for me. You chose me. Would I have been asleep? Would I have rose up and fought, not trusting your plan? Would I have denied you? I have failed you in each of these ways. And God you knew each as I would. But, Jesus, you chose obedience. You still chose to drink of the cup, knowing the pain you would have to take on. You chose obedience and redemption. You always do. In agony and darkness, you chose to trust the Father.
Were you under that tree?
Was your face pressed into the dirt praying right over there?
Were you pacing between those two trees?
Where were you in your pain, my Lord?
Was your breathing rapid?
Your pulse faint?
Were your legs weak with dread as blood rolled off your brow?
How did you bear it?
It was your obedience, your full surrender and complete trust—that’s why I can sit here today. I sit here not with agony, but with the authority of your life and resurrection. It was your obedience here that lead to redemption. Oh, my God, my soul is overwhelmed. Oh the cup and its trust. You chose to suffer for redemption. You were the man of sorrows. You were mocked, beaten, persecuted. You knew your path, and you chose to walk in obedience. You choose to be loyal to the redemption of your children. Your sacrifice has given me life. You extend the invitation to trust as you trusted the Father. Of this privilege, allow me to learn from the garden. Jesus, allow me to further grasp the level of trust to you had for the Father. It was here your heart was prepared for Calvary. It was in the wrestling that you reached deeper surrender and intimacy than conceivably possoble. Oh my Jesus. I am overwhelmed. Thank you for your toil. Thank you for your sacrifice, my Lord. Thank you for Gethsemane“
(Garden of Gethsemane, Jerusalem, Jan 4)
