Last night it all went down. Jesus ate his final meal with his closest friends, trying to make them understand what was about to happen, but they couldn't really grasp what he was saying. It didn't add up with the earthly "Messiah" concept ingrained in them from birth.
The meal they shared was a celebration of freedom from Egypt long ago, but now Jesus made it something special for them to remember him by, after he was gone. The symbolism would become more meaningful once they understood. But that would come later. For now they simply followed... Out into the garden where Jesus loved to pray. He went on alone, in the dark, while they waited.
In this garden we see his bitter struggle, between his human fears and dread, and his mission which was weighing so heavily now. He not only feared the pain and horror of the way he must die, he would also have to bear the weight of every human's guilt and shame - and I know the weight of my worst moments have been heavy enough! And with that weight, in his darkest moments, his Father would be shut away from him. He had never known that before. And it was already breaking his heart. The intensity of his struggle and prayers was so great, that the small vessels around his sweat glands burst, and he began to sweat drops of blood.
Finally, Jesus knew what he had to do. If there had been another way, he knew his Father, to whom he was bonded with the deepest love, would have provided it. He braced himself, and stood to meet that kiss of betrayal from one he had held closest.
That was last night. This morning he stands exhausted before a weighted trial. The final moves are in motion.
Comments