Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Monday in Lent 5 - Mark 14

How our Lord trembles before the cup that's filled with God's wrath against our sin.  None of us takes our guilt as seriously as we should.  We have made ourselves numb to the deadly consequences of our trespasses.  We have lied to ourselves that our evil will not result in bad, but in good.  But here in the Garden we learn to rightly estimate the cost as Jesus is terrified at the thought of having to drink down to the dregs God's justice against our guilt.

However, when the arresting party arrives, there is no hint of wavering in Christ's voice.  Just a firm resolve - and peace!  Really?  When a beloved disciple inflicts such pain as betrayal of His love (which we do everyday), where in the world does He find the strength to be peaceful at a time like this?  He does not.  Not in this world at least.  He finds strength in God's love from above.  "The peace came from His trust in the Father. To submit to the One who has loved you with an everlasting love is not terror in the end, but joy. He knew that and so His head was held high as He went to hand Himself over" (Rev. William Weedon).
He hands His life over to the arresting party, showing us what it is to live the prayer, "Thy will be done."

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