(Donald MacLeod, The Person of Christ, 1998, pp. 170-175).

In the scent of the lilies freshly bloomed,
Newly clothed in all of Solomon's splendor,
You prayed beneath that piece of silver moon,
In the perfect posture of your surrender.
Did you remember the songs of your youth?
Did you sing them beneath the olive tree,
As you came bravely face to face with Truth,
There in the Garden of Gethsemane.

And by the ever fickle fires of night,
There sat a few of your most trusted friends,
Who with the fading of the evening light,
Never noticed as their faith grew thin.
Yet there they are, fallen sound asleep;
Perfect portraits of human frailty.
For the promises we make, we cannot keep,
Here in the Garden of Gethsemane.

And in that all too sudden midnight hour,
While the sweat of day gave way to blood,
Did you invoke God's holiness and power?
Or argue for his mercy and his love?
When you said, "Father if it be your will,
Please, just let this cup pass from me!"
Did you hear any answer but the bitter chill,
That blows through the Garden of Gethsemane?

As the footsteps came falling on the grass,
Did you know on your heart that it was time?
Did you see the things that would come to pass?
Did you know the mountain you must climb?
I, too, know the kiss of a single friend,
Cuts deeper than the blades of a thousand enemies.
But then, I know that all good things must end,
Here in the Garden of Gethemane.

So in the longest hours of my night,
When my anguishing soul can find no rest,
With each angelic stranger that I fight,
With every trial and with every test,
Whatever comes my way, I cling to you.
Though friends and traitors all are calling me,
I trust in you alone to lead me through,
Life's darkest gardens of Gethsemane.

Here's the things I like about Christianity. (Some of them also apply to Islam and Judaism, but I know less about those religions.)

I like the practical advice about how to practice non-violent resistance:

"But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you." (Matthew 5:38-42 )

I like the story of the centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant:

When he came into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking him, and saying, "Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented."

Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."

The centurion answered, "Lord, I'm not worthy for you to come under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, "Most assuredly I tell you, I haven't found so great a faith, not even in Israel. I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth." Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way. Let it be done for you as you have believed." His servant was healed in that hour. (Matthew 8,5-13 )

I like it that Jesus knew what yeast was good for (in the Old Testament, and in the Epistles etc, leaven is used as a negative example) : "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened." (Matthew 13,33 )

I like the story of the "Canaanite woman" who rebuked Jesus for his hard-heartedness, and got a miracle:

Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely demonized!" (I can't help giggling: I love "severely demonized"!)
But he answered her not a word.
His disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away; for she cries after us."
But he answered, "I wasn't sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
But she came and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, help me."
But he answered, "It is not appropriate to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that hour. (Matthew 15,22-28 )

I like it that when Jesus's disciples wanted to know who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus "called a little child to himself, and set him in the midst of them, and said, "Most assuredly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea. .... Then little children were brought to him, that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Allow the little children, and don't forbid them to come to me; for to such belongs the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 18,1-6, and 19,13-14 )

I like this story, from first to last, from the rich young man who could not bring himself to sell all he had, to the horrified disciples (who might not have been as wealthy, but who probably hadn't themselves "sold all they had"), to the parable of the vineyard workers: what I described on Slacktivist when he retold the parable as one of the God-goofy-with-love stories (the Prodigal Son is another).

Behold, one came to him and said, "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"

He said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

He said to him, "Which ones?"

Jesus said, "'You shall not murder.' 'You shall not commit adultery.' 'You shall not steal.' 'You shall not offer false testimony.' 'Honor your father and mother.' And, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

The young man said to him, "All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?"

Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions. Jesus said to his disciples, "Most assuredly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."

When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"

Looking at them, Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Then Peter answered, "Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?"

Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life. But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.

"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. To them he said, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went their way.

Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, 'Why do you stand here all day idle?'

"They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.'

"He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.' When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.'

"When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius. When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household, saying, 'These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!'

"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn't you agree with me for a denarius? Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you. Isn't it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?' So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew, 19:16-20:16) (Slacktivist, 2006/9)

And of course (still Matthew) the passage from 25:34-45:

Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?'

"The King will answer them, 'Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'

"Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?'

"Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me.' These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

And almost despite myself, I like this story. Jesus knows (he says to his disciples) that he's going to be crucified - that God wants him to be slowly tortured to death. And (he's only human) this distresses him.

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go there and pray." He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me."

He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire."

He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What, couldn't you watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray, that you don't enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cup can't pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done." He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words. Then he came to his disciples, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let's be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand."

While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priest and elders of the people. Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, "Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him." Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed him.

Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword. Or do you think that I couldn't ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?" (Matthew 26:36-54 )

I love these stories. Seriously: I love them. And that's just one gospel. And I just picked out my favourite bits and pieces - there are other stories, other quotes, I love almost as much. I admire anyone - whether they identify as Christian, Muslim, Jew, Wiccan, or Buddhist - who practices the virtues - the excellences - described by these stories: the non-violent resistance against an oppressor; the kindness and willingness to help; the courage of the Canaanite woman, and Jesus's response to a stinging rebuke (a friend points out that this unnamed woman is the only person in any of the gospels - apart from perhaps his own mother over the wine at the wedding party - who got the better of Jesus in a duel of words); charity even to recipients deemed "undeserving"; faith and courtesy; humility; charity towards strangers, the sick, the poor, those in need; the reminder in the vineyard story that Christianity is meant to be about your own relationship with God, not about policing other people's relationship with God; and yes: the courage of being ready to endure even being tortured slowly to death (the process of crucifixion was execution by slow torture) because you believe that's what God wants of you.

There is a priest in New York - Father Louis Braxton Jr - who runs a shelter for LGBT youths, Carmen's Place.

The shelter runs on a shoestring, relying on donations from supporters, but it is still a struggle to pay rent and buy food, Father Braxton said. He and a small staff of volunteers help prepare the meals and try to turn the residents away from prostitution and persuade them to go to school or find a job, and help them find a place to live.

Father Braxton strongly disapproves of the prostitution, but he says kicking residents out for peddling their bodies would only make things worse. So as they leave the shelter dressed in skimpy outfits, he reminds them that the shelter door is locked from 2 a.m. until sunrise and leaves them with his standard parting wish: "I hope you get arrested."

"That's the only thing that stops them - at least for a few days," he said. "These kids have been kicked out of the other gay youth shelters in the city by breaking rules and curfews. We're their last hope. I can't throw them back on the street." New York Times

Earlier this month, Father Braxton was attacked by four teenage boys when he stepped in to defend one of the shelter residents.

Four punks spewing hateful language at a transgender woman outside a shelter for gay and transgender young people in Queens beat up a priest who attempted to thwart their tirade, police said.

The teens started harassing Alessandra-Michelle Carver, 21, as she was dancing in front of Carmen's Place in Astoria about 10:30 p.m. on Monday.

"One of them hit me with a garbage can," she said. "Then his friends started joining in."

With the help of other shelter residents and the Rev. Louis Braxton, who runs the shelter, Carver was able to scare them off.

But minutes later, the boys came back armed with metal poles, empty paint cans, belts and a miter saw. "Father was trying to make peace with them, but then one of them hit him in the back of the head with a paint can," Carver said. "He fell to the ground, and they kept hitting him."
....
Braxton, who shrugged off the attack after being treated for cuts and bruises at Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens, said men are often threatened by transgender women. "I think that young men see these striking girls, and they're attracted," he said. "And when they find out they are male, they don't know how to handle it and act out in rage." NY Daily News

Now, obviously, you wouldn't have to be a Christian to behave like this. But that kind of courage, kindness, and charity that Father Braxton displayed is something I would, reading the gospels, accept as something that could well be inspired by them. As Father Mychal Judge's courage and kindness and charity seemed to be part of his faith, inspired by it and rooted in it. Either of them may simply have been that kind of person anyway: but I can, I acknowledge, see in the gospel I love the kind of spiritual discipline that inspires a person to behave as they did.

The most routine argument by those who oppose equal marriage for same-sex couples as for mixed-sex couples is that it's against their religion. (The other arguments (that same-sex couples can't have children, or that same-sex couples are bad parents) all tend to lead back either to the same claim: it's against the practice of Christianity to allow same-sex couples to have the same right to civil marriage as mixed-sex couples - or (in the case of the "same-sex couples can't have children") to increasingly-involved nonsense as the claimer tries to show how it's different for mixed-sex couples who have children the same way as same-sex couples do.) When it's pointed out that couples who want to get married by a civil authority don't have to justify themselves to a religious authority that would ban their marriage (if a Jew wants to marry a non-Jew: if a paraplegic wants to marry anyone: if a divorcee wants to marry again: if a man wants to marry another man, or a woman wants to marry another woman) then the argument of "religious freedom" comes out: it is impossible (so these Christians claim) for them to properly practice their religion if they're required to treat same-sex married couples as they would mixed-sex married couples.

So for these people, the practice of Christianity requires them to keep a lesbian and their children away from her partner as she lies dying of brain aneurysm. Lisa Pond and Janice Langbehn were long-term partners; they had all the right documentation to give them almost the same rights as a married couple would have: they had adopted children: but because Florida had legislation enabling Christian freedom of religion to deny recognition to same-sex relationships, Lisa Pond died alone. Her partner was not allowed to see her: her children were not allowed to see her. (Miami Herald, via the Pond-Langbehn blog) That is the practice of Christianity, they tell me: the Christian practice of religion requires making sure two people in a same-sex relationship don't have the same legal rights, responsibilities, and obligations, and this overrides anything Jesus said about visiting the sick, or caring for strangers.

A man has said he was "left for dead" in what police have described as a homophobic attack.
Stephen Scott, 27, was walking home near Ballyduff Brae in Newtownabbey on Wednesday night [4th June 2008] when he was attacked.
Three youths, thought to be in their late teens, knocked him to the ground and continued kicking and punching him as they shouted insults.
Mr Scott is being treated in hospital for a head injury, a leg injury and broken ribs. (BBC, 6th June)

This was the Christian reaction of Iris Robinson, DUP Minister for Health in Northern Ireland, to this attack. Homosexuals are "disgusting, loathsome, nauseating, wicked and vile", but "I have a very lovely psychiatrist who works with me in my offices and his Christian background is that he tries to help homosexuals - trying to turn away from what they are engaged in." audio link

(Iris Robinson to Belfast Telegraph: “Can you think of anything more vile than man and man or woman and woman and sexually abusing children? What I say I base on biblical pronouncements, based on God’s word. I am amazed that people are surprised when I quote from scriptures ... I cannot think of anything more sickening than a child being abused. It is comparable to the act of homosexuality. I think they are all comparable. I feel totally repulsed by both. ... I am trying to reach out to people. That is what Christ teaches us ... Anything I say is out of love. I am not hate-mongering. I cannot leave my Christian values hanging at the door when I go into politics. I am speaking out more now because we are getting it more and more rammed down our throats that the minority views are more important than the majority views. I am not trying to alienate anyone ... I do not turn anyone away. I would never water down anything with the scriptures and I don’t think I should. I find it amazing, if not unexpected, as these days Christians are persecuted for their views but that will not stop me. There will be a judgement day and when I am judged I want to know that I did all I could to spread the word of God.”)

So that's the word of God, these are Christian values: that a man who has been beaten and left for dead by his attackers, who is lying ill in hospital with "a head injury, a leg injury and broken ribs" ought to be called "disgusting, loathsome, nauseating, wicked and vile", and the "Christian help" he is offered ought to be an attempt to "cure" him of his sexual orientation.

But the worst example I have found - and the one that in fact inspired this blog post, because while all these things depict a Christianity I loathe, I wanted to remind myself that although outspoken Christians tell me their God is a homophobic God and their religion is a religion of hate, still, the religion I was taught as a child was not like this - begins with a page from the website of the Metropolitan Community Church in Manchester:

Prossy Kakooza is a 26-year-old woman seeking asylum in the UK. She fled Uganda after suffering vicious sexual, physical and verbal attacks due to her sexual orientation.

Prossy had been forced into an engagement when her family discovered her relationship with the girlfriend she met at university. Both women were marched two miles naked to the police station, where they were locked up.

Prossy’s inmates subjected her to gross acts of humiliation. She was violently raped by police officers who taunted her with derogatory comments like ‘’we’ll show you what you’re missing’’ and ‘’you’re only this way because you haven’t met a real man’’. She was also scalded on her thighs with hot meat skewers.

Prossy was eventually taken out of prison after her father bribed the guards. Her family had decided they would sacrifice her instead, believing this would ‘’take the curse away from the family’’.

Whilst her family were making arrangements to slaughter her, Prossy managed to flee to the United Kingdom to seek asylum.

The reaction of the MCC in Manchester was to support Prossy Kakooza's asylum claim (if you're British, you'll find links to a petition and information about how to write in support at the link above). They believe: "In MCC we welcome all types of people to worship with us and explore a journey of Christian discipleship. To be lgbt friendly means that we have a high profile in the local gay village and media. We speak out in the press about areas of concern to our communities, we use a variety of images in our worship, liturgy and song which speak to various groups of people. We don’t judge anyone and we help each other on our journey through life. We realise how life really is and don’t try to get people to be anything other than who they are. You don’t need to pretend in MCC. "

But Archbishop Peter Akinola, told about Prossy Kakooza, reacted rather differently:

Peter Akinola:

OK. Every community, every society, has its own standards of life. In ancient African societies we had what are called “taboos”, things you should not do, and if you break the taboos there are consequences.

Alright, so in your Western society many of these have arisen but in some of our African societies many things have not arisen and this happens to be one of them. In fact the word in our language does not exist in our language. So if the practice is now found to be in our society it is of service to be against it. Alright, and to that extent what my understanding is, is that those that are responsible for law and order will want to prevent wholesale importation of foreign practices and traditions, that are not consistent with native standards, native way of life.

So if you say it is good for you, it is not good for us …. If they say it is not right for our societies then it’s not right, and that’s it.

And Archbishop Henry Orombi, Uganda, responded at more length but still without a word of condemnation for the torture and rape:

Can I just come back to say that, that’s an example given for my country. There’s very little influence to stop the legislation of a law, an institute, in practice by the church. The church’s practice is to preach, to proclaim, so that people who find themselves in a position where they go away from the word of God, the same word of God can bring them back to life. And that is in Uganda as already Archbishop Akinola is saying.

I would be in trouble if I were to say to my people in Uganda that tomorrow I can officiate at a same-sex marriage in my church. First of all the church will be closed.. Two, I might even be fired from my job because the question they are going to ask me is “Have you not read the word of God? And teach us now.”

Simply saying that the Christian faith that we practice, which was brought from the West, by the way, taught us what biblically sexuality is. We’ve embraced that faith, we are practicing that faith, and moving away from that faith would be a contradiction to what we have inherited. First of all our communities will not accept them because they will want to let them know that if that is your orientation you can come back to life. It’s a possibility there. We believe there is a possibility culturally. Secondly, we believe there is a possibility according to Christian faith. And we believe that, that God can bring you back when you have gone out of what is supposed to be intended by God. Now there is a complement in believing there is transformation, there is restoration, that makes us stand on the word of God which can bring change to people, as it has done to us over a period of time.

When we first received missionaries, way back, if we go back to 1886 we had a young man and a king and he wanted to have a sexual, homosexual, relationship with him. Now this young man had already taken a new standard of Christian faith and said “No we can’t do that because the word of God says this.” They paid for their lives. This man on the 3rd of June was commemorated and about a million people went to remember them. So the thing which is plain in our African society, other than government rule, it is culturally our community of faith, and where they stand is rock solid now, the amazing thing is that it is the western church that brought this Christianity to us. We believed it, we are practicing it, and now the western church is advocating for something which is contrary to what their ancestors brought us.

Riazat Butt (Guardian) did a followup question:

I didn’t actually hear you condemn at all the rapes of gays and lesbians in your countries. He wasn’t asking you if you could change government legislation he was asking you whether the Gospel had been compromised by the way they had been treated. Is there something in Christianity about forgiveness?

Henry Orombi: If you were for the Shogah in Kampala a few weeks ago the gay demonstrated in the country and they were not arrested. The gay led a press conference and they were not arrested.

Riazat Butt: We’re not talking about freedom of expression, he was specifically referring to the use of torture and rape.

Henry Orombi: I would not believe a thing like that is done in the public knowledge of the people of Uganda because the gay people who are Ugandans are citizens of the country and we would cherish the fact that we would want to send it our people. For some of those things probably you get information in England and we may not even get information, I don’t know how they get their information.

Henry Luke Orombi, Archbishop of Uganda, has said in interviews that the rift in the church can only be bridged if liberal bishops "espousing sexual perversion, repent and return to Christ's teachings".

Those "teachings", I presume, are those in some gospel I have not yet read, where Jesus, faced with the awful sin of one woman loving another, speaks out for rape, torture, and murder. I've read Mark, Matthew, Luke and John from first to last, and I don't know where in the gospels Jesus advocates scalding a woman on her thighs with hot meat skewers. (Nor do I especially want to know, thank you.)

A religion which takes the side of the torturers and rapists, which upholds the right of society to imprison and punish lovers for their love, which stands between a dying woman and her family, is not a religion I can feel any affection or respect for. Yet that's Christianity... so they tell me.

"Long in anguish deep was He,
Weeping there for you and me,
For our sin to Him was known;
We should love Him evermore
For the anguish that He bore
In Gethsemane, alone." -- Third verse, "In Gethsemane Alone"

Oftentimes, when we in Churches of Christ are directed to a song "to prepare our minds for the taking of the Lord's Supper," the song we sing is not about the crucifixion event itself, but about Jesus' weeping in the Garden of Gethsemane.  "Night with Ebon Pinion" and "In Gethsemane Alone" are among the more popular choices for this.  The Bible story these songs bring to mind are the accounts in the Synoptics, where Jesus' "soul is burdened with sorrow to the point of death" and He falls "face down" and prays "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me, nevertheless not My will but Yours be done."  Luke even notes "sweat like drops of blood" pouring from his brow.  Three times the night before His death Jesus prays this prayer while His disciples sleep.

The presumption behind many of these songs is that in this moment, the suffering of Calvary begins.  In essence, Jesus knows what's coming, and His "human side" gets scared.  He begs God earnestly to be spared from the pain that is to come, but knowing that it is necessary to the salvation of humanity, He couches His prayer with "Thy will be done."

I don't buy it.

To be sure, I believe the stories are true as they are reported in the Synoptics.  The problem I have is with the interpretation rendered in the songs.

For one, the Gethsemane that is portrayed in John stands in stark contrast with the supposed image of Jesus in the synoptics as a blubbering coward.  In John 17, Jesus' prayer in the Garden is one where He is giving God the pep talk, not the other way around.  "The hour has come.  Glorify Your Son, that Your Son might glorify You."  "I have finished the work You gave me to do.  Now, Father, glorify Me with Yourself."  Jesus is not afraid of the cross; He's looking forward to it.  He's done everything God asked Him to do in His earthly ministry.  Now it's time to get on with the next part of His mission.

Two, the supposed "fearful Jesus" of the Synoptics is dramatically inconsistent with the character of Jesus revealed in those very books, especially in Luke.  In Luke 9, Jesus "resolutely sets His face toward Jerusalem" immediately after telling His disciples TWICE that when He got there, He would be betrayed and killed.  The Jesus portrayed in the Synoptics sees the cross not as something to be avioded if at all possible, but as the inevitable and even desirable destination of His journey.  He went to Jerusalem for the specific purpose of dying.  It would be inconcistent with the character of Jesus to try to back out at the last minute.

In a similar vein, if the prayer described in the Synoptics is what the lryicists interpret it to be, this is the first and only time in Jesus' life when anyone records Him doing something that is completely selfish.  Everything else Jesus has ever done in His life has been for somebody else. 

Likewise, a few minutes after His final prayer in Gethsemane, Jesus tells Peter to put away His sword, because "Don't you think I can appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?"  If Jesus really is pleading -- as earnestly as we see Him begging His Father for anything in His life -- to avoid the cross, to spare His life, to at least find another way, isn't that the moment that those twelve legions show up? 

Instead, one angel appears.  One.  And that only with a few words of comfort, not an army.

So what do we do with this?  How do we reconcile the Gethsemane of John with that of Matthew, Mark, and Luke?  How do we compare the Jesus in the garden with the Jesus on the road to Jerusalem?

Is Jesus really begging for His life?  I don't think so.  But I do think He is begging for somebody's.

One key line in Jesus' prayer in John may give us some insight into what might be happening in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  In John 18:9, when Jesus surrenders to Judas and the mob, He asks that His disiples be allowed to go free.  This is in fulfillment of a prophecy He Himself made in 17:12, "Of the ones You have given Me I have lost none."  The rest of that verse reads, "except the Son of Perdition."  Jesus makes a point of the fact that none of His disciples have died under His care.  They are His friends.  He has taken care of them.

Well, all except one -- the "Son of Perdition."

Judas Iscariot is the only one of the original twelve who will die before the crucifixion.  After betraying Jesus into the hands of the rulers, he regrets His decision and tries to return the money he was paid and buy Jesus back from them.  The rulers want no part of it, so Judas goes out and hangs himself.

The more I think about it, the more convinced I become that this is the part of the story Jesus wants to change.  Maybe what Jesus is praying for is permission to surrender Himself to the authorities so that Judas doesn't have to betray Him.  Maybe what Jesus is weeping over is not the imminent loss of His Own life, but that of someone close to Him.  Maybe the part of God's will that Jesus is having a hard time accepting is that we humans have to be allowed to make our own choices, even when those choices are destructive.

If I'm right -- if Jesus really is weeping not for Himself or for us but for Judas Iscariot -- the problem of the "two Gethsemanes" is neatly reconciled.  We see Jesus not at His cowardly worst, but at is selfless best.  We see the embodiment of "pray for those who percesute you."  And we see God letting Judas be Judas, not intervening to prevent the betrayal, but wracked with grief over its consequences for a dear friend.

And now, if you can't sing "Night With Ebon Pinion" the same way again, I'm sorry.  And you're welcome.

Although Jesus was a vivid storyteller, he didn’t exaggerate his speech. Every word he spoke had a meaning. Perhaps his soul was crushed by every sin he was shouldering. Every angry thought, every form of abuse, every familial curse, every betrayal, every broken heart. Or maybe it was because he knew his Father would soon turn away from him. Maybe He already had. Either way, he was so broken and overwhelmed with sadness that it was probably hard for him to even stand to his feet. And it must have hurt even more to know that the friends he counted on, whom he loved, would all let him down.

By this point, his closest friends must have witnessed many, if not all of the miracles he had performed. In fact, one of these three friends claimed that if one wrote down everything that Jesus ever did, the whole world could not contain the books. Whether at face value or a gross exaggeration, they clearly witnessed many amazing things.

I imagine that it’s fair to assume that these three friends would have done anything to alleviate Jesus’ pain. That they probably said “yes” immediately in response when he asked them to keep watch and pray.

I’m sure they intended to do just what he said. They probably tried. And who knows, maybe it was the wine from dinner. Or their thoughts about what happened with Judas, or for Peter, what Jesus predicted he’d do. Regardless, they each fell asleep.

Three times.

Not only that, but his request that they pray was for them, not him. He knew they needed the prayer. That their spirits needed the strongest connection possible to God in order to really face what was going to happen next. Even still, they fell asleep.

I wonder what they thought when they looked back on this time and realized the squandered opportunity.

* * *

In the last week, God put an urgent need on my heart to pray for my youngest daughter. As I tucked her in one night, it hit me so hard that I instantly felt claustrophobic and I knew that I needed to pray. Immediately. Only He didn’t tell me what to pray for.

As one with an admitted flare for the dramatics, my mind immediately went there. The place it occasionally wanders to when I'm driving alone in the car singing. Two thoughts and a tangent later I'm mentally giving my husband's eulogy and wiping away tears. The place that keeps thoughts like, something terrible is going to happen to the baby and this might be the last time I see her alive. You know, there.

So I prayed. And cried. Before my kids were born I had a hard time with even the idea of this kind of prayer. I found it too easy to feel self-conscious and ridiculous. I second-guessed everything and even wondered if I made up what I “thought” God put on my heart.

Babies changed that. I don’t care how I look anymore, and I certainly don’t care how my faith sounds to others. I believe it. And believing it means believing all of it. Especially when it has something to do with my kids.

So I continued to pray. And I prayed that the Holy Spirit would pray for me, because I had no idea what I was praying for, but I knew that he did. Anyway, after two day of intense praying, things let up a little. I was able to breathe better.

Today the house was quiet. No one was home but me. It was wonderful. I put my feet up and pulled out my phone and played Solitaire. I was up several hundred thousand dollars when I felt God call me to pray for my daughter again. So I got on my knees and prayed. Only this time I was a little preoccupied, plus the feeling wasn’t nearly as intense as it was the last time. So I prayed briefly and got back to the game.

Then God hit me with the image of Jesus, as he shook his disciples awake and said, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?"

Jesus knew that they needed to pray. He knew what was going to happen to them next.

God knew that I needed to pray for my daughter. He knows what is coming next.

Game forgotten, I was back on my knees, ashamed and embarrassed, but resolved.

I absolutely do not want to look back at this time and wonder what I squandered away on my daughter’s behalf because I got lazy. I feel so blessed that God has the patience to remind me of this. And such a love for her that He refuses to let me off the hook.

 Here is a blog I posted in 2005...enjoy.

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Jesus' prayer to God in Gethsemane's garden rings hauntingly true today as we have witnessed how the lines between the church and the world have become ever increasingly fuzzy. These days it is common to see true Christians mask their faith in order to "fit in" under the false precept of "becoming all things to all men". Many evangelical preachers have traded the consuming fire of God's word for a message that rings closer a children's song by a purple dinosaur (not that I have anything against purple dinosaurs - especially if you're in preschool), while others have gone to the other extreme, completely cutting themselves off from all things secular, thus rendering God's message powerless to change others.

So what should we as disciples of Christ think of Jesus' prayer for his disciples the night before his crucifixion? Jesus prayed that his disciples be Sanctified (set apart) to him yet did not take them out of the world, but in fact sent them into the world set apart by the truth of the word to save the world!

Thursday:        

At the Seder, we locked eyes across the bowl of bitter herbs, and the rabbi told me he knew I was turning him over to the authorities.[1] In fact, he said it was prophesied.[2] He understands that I will give him the reason he needs to revolt, armed with the swords he asked us to prepare.[3]

            It was almost midnight by the time I reached the palace of Caiaphus.

            "It's time," I said to the high priest. "He will go to the olive press on the Mountain of Olives with only a few. Are you ready?"

            "Oh, I'm not going, boy." Caiaphus scoffed. "Traipsing about the outskirts of town at this time of night?" He shook his head. "No, you take my guard and raise a mob from the leaders, and bring him to me."

            It took an hour to tour the Sanhedrin's precinct for the rulers and rabble-rousers willing to join us, and by the time we crossed the Kidron Valley, we had a sizeable crowd. Our torchlight cut through the darkness and marked our progression for any who was awake to see. And the noise we made! Swords clinking, and the Passover-drunk crew were singing and banging their clubs against the tree trunks. The rabbi knew we were coming. Only the deaf and blind could miss us. But, I knew he would wait for me. He would not run away.

            We came up on him sitting on a stone in the dark. My excitement that the moment had come made me say jubilantly,

"Good evening, Rabbi!"

I reached for him, pressed my cheek on his and kissed the air beside his ear. I began to pull back, but he embraced me in a hug and spoke into my ear.

            "Friend."

            He held me at arm's length and questioned me with a look.

            I answered him with a grin. He sighed, and dropped his arms.

            "Do what you came to do."

            When I pulled away, my cheek was damp. I rubbed across the wet, and there was blood on my fingers.[4]

            Jesus looked past me and asked the mob, "Who do you want?"

            The captain of the guard said, "Are you the Rabbi Yeshua of Nazareth?"

            "I am," Jesus answered.

The breath was knocked out of me as the ground rushed to meet my chin. A couple of the men yelped in pain and a few were burned from falling torches. I peered up and saw that every man was lying prone on the ground[5] except the rabbi, who stood holding his hands in front to him, waiting for us to rise. We did, with speed. Then, the tussle began.

I was pushed aside as the high priest's soldiers grabbed for the rabbi. I unsheathed my knife and pointed it at the nearest neck, but Peter beat me to first blood by mutilating the ear of Caiaphus' valet.[6] I cheered the action, and was about to mimic it, when Jesus roared.

            "PUT YOUR SWORDS AWAY!" He spread his hands wide to calm everyone and gently reached for the valet who had fallen in agony. The rabbi touched the side of his head, smoothed back his hair and helped him to his feet. The ear was restored.[7]

"Don't you think I can call on my Father's help and 50,000 angels will fight for me? But I must fulfill the prophecies that say it will happen this way. There will be no fighting. Swords will only bring more death."

            He looked at me, then at all the others.

            "There will be no revolt."

            Phillip and Thaddeus were the first to back away into the darkness. Mark was being held by two men and he struggled so hard to flee, he left his tunic in his captor's hands, and fled naked.[8] I don't know how long the others stood by his side because I ran into an empty night.

[1] Matthew 26:23-25

[2] Matthew 26:24

[3] Luke 22:35-38

[4] Luke 22:44

[5] John 18:6

[6] This wasn't a miss, but a brutal attack on this man that disqualified him for priestly service, thereby instantly unemploying him. (Leviticus 21:16-23)

[7] Luke 22:50

[8] Mark 14:51-52

Well, I tried to ignore what I heard and just go on with getting settled.  And after moving four times in five months with four little ones, I was ready to do just that. 

Then the day came that I was hanging pictures in our bedroom.  Not many, just a wedding picture, a wedding prayer, a small bulletin board, a large paperboard of favorite scriptures my Mom had written, and my Garden of Gethsemane painting that I purchased in Jordan.

There's a story even in the purchase of that painting.  Amidst the spiritual darkness of this self-proclaimed "open-minded" country, we walked into a little office, the details of which must remain undisclosed.  There was definitely light in this place!  It's purpose to share the gospel with those seeking.  A large cardboard box was in the small front room.  It was empty.  You see, it usually stayed empty.  It held donated Bibles that were to go to anyone who requested.  Many requested, and few donated.  We were later taken back to another smaller room where Hussein painted scenes of Jesus.  My roommate and I both decided to purchase one.  As I looked through the different scenes to choose from, I prayed earnestly that I would receive the one God wanted me to  have.  I ended up choosing a portrait of Jesus giving thanks to the Father before feeding the 5,000, for I was trusting God without fear to provide for all my needs.  However, when we received our paintings a couple weeks later, I had been given Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Okay.

During my summer in Jordan, we made a long weekend trip to Israel.  Wonderful!  I had visited this garden, the garden where Jesus prayed to the Father before being taken to the cross. 

Up until this point, I had embraced sufferings and trials because of the good that I saw come out of them.  They helped me become more like Christ, and this is what I was after.  And when I study this subject in Scripture, it is clear that we will suffer if we follow Jesus.

Back in my bedroom, I pulled this painting out of the box, and decided that after ten years it deserved a frame.  So the next trip to Wal-mart obtained a rugged wood frame, too small to fit the off-size of the foreign made portrait.  But I would make it work. 

Later, as I sat in my bathroom looking out at it, the Holy Spirit began to stir in my heart.  Now I believe like my pastor, that 90% of hearing from God is from reading His Word the Bible.  But this was one of those moments when it was that gentle, quiet voice inside.  It was as if He was asking me if I was putting Jesus in the Garden away in my life as well.  In other words, I felt He was asking if I was no longer willing to suffer.  You see, the previous eight years had been almost perpetual crisis.  And now, I was under the much hoped for assumption that moving into our first home meant that I was settling into a nice easy life.  Ha! 

And immediately, I just knew that the issue at hand was having that fifth baby.  With all the trouble I have had bearing the first four, and I will probably share that later, I could not imagine having another one.  Was I willing to suffer again in this way?  Was I willing to walk down that road with the Lord in order to obtain by faith His revealed will for my life?  Was I willing to go through more pain in order to allow God to place this new and precious soul into now and eternity?  Was I willing to lay down my life?

Shellshocked and in desperate need of rest, I did not throw my hands up to volunteer.

But before the sun set on that day, Jesus in the Garden had come out of His frame, and now hangs bare on my wall.  I look at it as I write this, and if it did not endanger my life and this baby (I'll get to that in a minute), I would weep. 

Trying to block all this out of my mind and tell myself that it was just my dramatic personality and wild imagination, I go on with life.  Christmas break comes, and the conviction returns.  Unable to find any strength within myself to obey, I turn to God's Word, asking for something to hold on to if I agree to this seemingly unreasonable request.

He leads me to Genesis, to an encounter that Abraham has with God.  I like other versions better, but the NIV was the one I reached for in this moment, being the one on my nightstand at the time.  These words seem to fly off the page, "Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield (or, sovereign), and your very great reward (or, shield; your reward will be very great)."  Genesis 15:1b 

Now I had been teaching the kids about the Sovereignty of God for the last 2-3 weeks.  But I'm sure the lesson was really for me.  And this verse was telling me that God was not only sovereign over all the universe, but He is sovereign over my life and body too.  God is in control.

Okay.

And thus, I was soon pregnant, with a due date in the fall.

Now will I trust Him?

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."                  Luke 9:57+58

Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

This reminds me that our Savior poured out His own precious life blood during the agony in the garden. Crushed under the weight of incredible sorrow and obedience he had only to look a stones throw away to find those who should have been looking, watching and praying ... asleep.

Lets not fall asleep, come alive and awaken to see all that God desires to show you.

I wrote this song many years ago while in high school I was so touched by the meaning of Gethsemane that the Lord brought a song to my heart. I put some pictures to it here at home today. I hope it is a reminder of our Saviors Love for the father... and for you.

In Him

Able

 

Con motivo de la pasada Semana Santa tuve la oportunidad de volver a ver Jesucristo Superstar por obra y gracia de un canal de pago y no he podido resistirme a la tentación (nunca mejor dicho) de hablar sobre ella.

En 1971 Tim Rice (autor del libreto) y Andrew Lloyd Weber (responsable de la música) presentaron en Broadway una ópera rock a la que titularon Jesus Christ Superstar y que, obviamente, tenía como protagonista a Jesucristo. Lo que en un primer momento había nacido como un disco en el que Ian Gillian (líder de los Deep Purple) interpretaba a Jesús, se convirtió en un musical de éxito (recordemos la versión española a cargo del ahora incalificable Camilo Sesto y Ángela Carrasco) y, en 1973, saltó a la gran pantalla de la mano de Norman Jewison que, un par de años antes, había rodado la conocidísima El violinista en el tejado.

La película se inicia cuando una compañía de cantantes y bailarines atraviesa el desierto del Neguev a bordo de un autocar para llevar a cabo la representación del musical en pleno Israel.

Cuando los intérpretes descienden del destartalado vehículo y comienzan a “vestirse” y preparar el atrezzo que van a utilizar, nos llegan las primeras sorpresas: un Judas ataviado con un traje más propio del Ballet Zoom de Valerio Lazarov que del personaje bíblico, unos soldados con cascos y botas militares o unos jubilosos seguidores de Jesús que parecen salidos directamente de Hair. Y empieza el espectáculo.

A través de más de 20 temas musicales se desgranan los últimos días de la vida de Jesús de Nazaret con momentos tan brilantes como “Hosanna”, “I don t know how to love him”, “Gethsemane” o “Trial before pilate” acompañados de coreografías psicodélicas que parecen provocadas por el consumo de algún tipo de estupefaciente.

La película, como suele suceder cuando a Jesús se le presenta de forma distinta a como preconiza la iglesia católica, fue tildada de irreverente, escandalosa y sacrílega. Toda estas acusaciones tienen su lógica si tenemos en cuenta cómo aparecen descritos los personajes y el ambiente que los rodea:

Ted Neely interpretaba a Jesús supliendo su inexpresividad (y poca estatura) con una potente voz. El Jesús de Jesucristo Superstar es un hombre lleno de dudas, un tanto sobrepasado por los acontecimientos que le rodean y aterrorizado ante su trágico destino.

Carl Anderson da vida a un Judas afroamericano cuya figura se tomó como ejemplo del mensaje antirracista de la película (no sé hasta qué punto que un afroamericano encarne al hombre que traicionó a Jesús sea muy antirracista…) y como encarnación de la voz crítica que observa cómo a Jesús todo se le escapa de las manos. Impagable la escena en la que es perseguido por unos tanques…

Yvonne Elliman es una María Magdalena con rasgos mestizos que ama profundamente a Jesús hombre y así lo manifiesta no sólo a través de sus canciones, sino mediante sus gestos y caricias.

A todos ellos debemos añadir un Herodes cuyos acompañantes parecen salidos de Priscila, reina del desierto; un Pilatos algo amanerado que convierte los 39 latigazos en uno de los momentos más impactantes de la cinta; unos Caifás y Anás con unos estrafalarios tocados o un Simon Zelote & Cía directamente salidos del “extasiante” concierto de Woodstock .

Y sin olvidar la caótica escena en la que Jesús monta en cólera cuando observa su templo convertido en un mercado en el que presenciamos venta de armas, tráfico de drogas, cambio de divisas o las evoluciones de descocadas stripers y prostitutas o aquella en la que se interpreta “Superstar” que nos recuerda a los ¿mejores? tiempos del programa Aplauso.

En fin, que aunque a la película le siente bastante mal el paso del tiempo y que toda la estética hippie que despliega quede trasnochada, es innegable reconocer la originalidad de la propuesta y la magnífica banda sonora, verdadera protagonista.

Amén.

Superstar (la canción famosa que parece salida de Aplauso)

King Herods Song (los que parecen Priscila, reina del desierto)

Simon Zealotes (los "fumados"...)

Hosanna (el día de la palma versión hippie)

Gethsemane (la famosísima que cantaba Camilo Sesto en sus buenos tiempos)

Everything's Alright (para ver lo "cariñosa" que era María Magdalena)

The Temple & Leppers (el templo lleno de "todo")

The Trial Before Pilate (los latigazos)

Para ver la ficha de la película, pinchad aquí

Briony  

(Matthew 26:36)

What a sad garden, indeed.  It is the place where Jesus went to spend his final hours with his disciples.  It is the place where the disciples could not even stay awake with him in his final hour.  It is the place where one of his disciples would betray him.  And, it is the place where the rest of the disciples would flee.

How heavy our Lord’s heart must have been as he ascended this hill.  The Songs of the Pilgrims Praising God and announcing his triumphal entry less than a week earlier must have felt a lifetime away.  That night, darkness reigned.  Yet, though darkness made its false claim of triumph from this garden, in not too many days, the angels of the Lord would announce to the women Jesus’ triumph over death in another garden.  “He is not here for he has been raised!”  These words of hope have split the darkness in the heart of many a man.  It is a word which God has planted in the heart of all who he calls his own, that we might not only share the joy of a risen savior but so that we might be encouraged when we enter times where the devil appears to have triumphed.

Even though we usually bust a nut over more contemporary art, we've gotta admit a certain fetish for 18th Century Venetian... (*sigh*)

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo | The Holy Family Crossing a Lake in a Boat | $4,500

So if you're not sweating at confession or gorging yourself on Easter dinner yet, the Molecule suggests you feast on this first: Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. Giovanni was known to put together tasty little black and white numbers like the one above for the rich and famous of the day. But the detail and devotion of this painter, one who followed in the footsteps of his talented and famous father, is best seen in his amazing collection of pieces that depict the life of Christ. We could say he was a bit more in tune with the meaning of Easter. Or we could say he just liked a good story. Either way, his paintings will blow you away.

Born in Venice on August 30, 1727, it's rumored that the painter was already working for his father Giovanni Battista moments after he sprang from his mother's womb. By the age of 20 Domenico was commissioned for his own work, but it wasn't until after his father's death that he began to develop his (more realistic) signature style.

It's been over a year since the Frick Collection in New York first showcased 63 never-before-seen cells of Domenico's 313 known New Testament Cycle drawings. From October 2006 through January 2007 the gallery was packed with a mere fragmentation of his narrative series of Christ's life from early Christianity through the foundation of the church.

"While a number of works included in the exhibition display Domenico's gifts as a storyteller and chronicler of his time, others reveal the depth of his piety and empathy. He approached his project as an interpreter and biblical scholar, drawing his own conclusions about the events from all the available, often conflicting, literary sources known to him, in order to infuse his cycle with a more complete and complex rendering of the Christian epic." -The Frick Collection 2006 Information Brochure

If you had a chance to see the exhibit, you'd remember the powerful display of cells, mimicking the narrative style in which they were created. The detailed strokes and visionary execution of the master draftsman made the exhibit a triumph for religious and secular crowds alike.

Perhaps the most intense work in the cycle is Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: The Second Prayer (above). According to biblical teaching, hours later Christ would be hung on a cross and murdered for the sins of humanity by his father, God. And days later he would miraculously resurrect. Soon after Domenico died in 1804, the works were sold and scattered to the four winds. Kudos to Frick for bringing these 63 works together.

"[Tiepolo's] greatest achievement expressed a yearning or homesickness, fueled by faith and religious devotion--the product of the most intense passion, or religious possession." -Leaves of the Tree

The Seattle Art Museum, the Honolulu Academy of Arts, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, London's National Gallery, and the Wadsworth Atheneum are a few public collections that hold paintings by Domenico Tiepolo.

LEARN MORE

Indiana University's Ryan Piurek writes "Cracking the Domenico Code"
The Frick's Domenico gallery images

Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:38-39)

We often forget that Jesus was a man, because we see Him so much as God and Savior. Herein this short verse we find Jesus asking His disciples to keep watch while He goes off to earnestly beseech His heavenly Father for advice. It teaches me a lot as it did Spurgeon when he viewed these verses as well.

It shows me that if Jesus, while walking this earth, needed to seek advice from God He went off and prayed by Himself. This was no mere winged prayer on the fly, but deep earnest seeking after God that only comes when you are focused, humbled, and laid bare before the Lord. It shows me that as a man I need to go to God in focused, earnest, and laid bare prayer was well when I cannot find the answers from God that I seek.

Our prayers are often such silly things. Natterings of nothing that really amount to wasted breath. We think that by spending an in ordinant amount of time in our own words we have the ear of the Lord. We do not. We think that if we say just the right phraseology then God will hear us and answer us in the way we desire. He will not. We may think that if we spend time waving our hands in the air gearing ourselves up into a fevered frenzy that we have "come into worship," but all we have done is broken a sweat.

Take a close look at the prayers of Jesus or of others in the Bible and you will discover not a formula to emulate but something quite startling: They were relatively short, yet to the point. They did not mince words, but spoke to God as if He were right there with them listening. How could they do that? Simple. They walked with God.

When Jesus entered that garden He knew He had only hours to live and that His life was headed for the one moment in time that God had for Him from all eternity. Yet, even Jesus, the Creator of the universe needed to earnestly speak with His Father. Why? He came to earth to suffer as a man and He was now totally dependent upon His relationship with the Godhead just as we are to be. He pleads with His fellow watchmen, "Stay here and keep watch with me." He was overwhelmed. He was at the point of death. The greatest spiritual victory always comes when we are willing to die so that we may live. Jesus showed us the way.

Earnest prayer is found in our humility and its succinctness. Dear child of Christ stop meandering around in your prayer life and speak to God. Not with fine sounding words but with your soul open to what He wants to say to you. Even Jesus asked, "My Father, if it is possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done." He was asking God for help, "if it is possible," in facing His ultimate sacrifice in life. His prayer is short. His prayer is succinct and to the point. Yet however God desired to answer His prayer, His prayer was "may Your will be done." Not uttered as a comment. Not uttered as a formula. Not uttered as an ending. Not uttered as an excuse for doubt like we so often do when we pray, "They will be done." Not offered as a means to blame God for the outcome, but rather a humble submission where Jesus knew without a doubt that His life was in the hands of the One who loved Him beyond all measure, knew every step He took, and could keep Him no matter His own self-doubt, fear, or future. The same holds true for us as well.

Today when you pray stop uttering words and speak to God like Jesus did in a garden. Like the men of God have always done. In humility and succinctness, knowing that God knows every step you take and your future and that His will, will be done. Go now and pray.
—
NOTE: This article is copyrighted by Pastor Lee Hemen © 2008 and the property of Pastor Lee Hemen. You are welcome to copy it, email it, or use it but please if you copy it, email it, or use it you must do so in its entirety. This devotional will follow Morning by Morning by C H Spurgeon. You may use it however you desire.

Mark describes this event in chapter 14 of his gospel. Jesus tells the the disciples,

"My soul is over-whelmed with sorrow to the point of death,"

and asks them to keep watch while he prays. The Mark says after that, "he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him."

Mark records Jesus' prayer as this,

"Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

Luke expands on this in his gospel in chapter 22 verses 43-44 saying after that, "An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground."

Jesus returns to the disciples only to find that they've been sleeping as his agonizes over what he knows will come in the morning. Two more times Jesus leaves to pray and returns to find them sleeping. The last time he returns he knows there is no other option.

"Are you still sleeping? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

Guards who work for the Jewish Chief Priests arrive. Judas points out who Jesus is by kissing him. The guards take him way to appear before the Chief Priests. As he's being hauled off Jesus says,

"Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with clubs and swords to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple and the courts, and you did not arrest me, But the scriptures must be fulfilled."

Then Mark writes perhaps one of the saddest statements in the Bible, verse 50 of chapter 14, "Then everyone deserted him and fled."

We can only imagine Jesus mental turmoil that night. He knew in a few hours he would be subjected to beatings so severe those alone should have killed him. Then he would be forced to carry his own heavy cross to the site of of Crucifixion. They would pound nails through his hands and feet to hang him on the cross. They would place a crown of thorns upon his head. They would mock him and ridicule him even as he was dying. They would offer him only vinegar to quench his thirst. They would pierce his side with a sword.

Jesus suffered real physical pain the day he was crucified. That night he is so beside himself with the burden he must carry that he feels the knowledge of it alone is enough to kill him. Of course he cried out to God, asking if there was any other way. In his prayer he calls God "Abba".  Abba is a very intimate Hebrew word used between father and child, like our English word Daddy. The King of Israel, the Son of God, lies prostrate on the ground like a child crying out for his Daddy, asking him to spare him the coming pain.  Yet he understands the ultimate decision is God's. He knows he must do as God commands and fulfill his plan. "Yet not what I will, but what you will."

Haven't we all been there? Facing some insurmountable situation, at our wits' end, nowhere else to turn? Feeling that certainly this trial will be the death of us? The only thing left to do is humble ourselves and cry out to God.

God answered Jesus by sending an angel to strengthen him. But he did not take the difficult task of dying on the cross from him.

Has God ever laid a task out before you to complete or alloed you to be in a situation that was difficult? Something you would rather not do? Didn't you bargain with him? Beg him give you another route to take?

Jesus is in such despair the Bible tells us that he sweat blood. I have felt grief, I have felt fear, but never more than what brought tears to my eyes. I can not imagine the inner struggle it must take to cause a person to sweat blood.

When Jesus sees the armed men coming for him, he knows it is time for him to fulfill God's plan for him. He doesn't try to flee, he doesn't try to physically overcome his captors. He goes willingly, even speaking with a hint of humor and sarcasm in his voice.

"Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with clubs and swords to capture me?"

To put it in today's term, "Get real! I've been hangin' around here all this time and never shown any threat of violence. Why do you think I would now? Come, on. Is all this really necessary? Let's just get this over with!" 

In fact, before Jesus is taken off, hot-headed Peter cuts the ear off one of the men. Jesus heals him. Not the action of a hostile criminal.

Jesus is taken away and as Luke says, everyone deserted him. Have you ever been in the midst of difficult times and felt alone? Perhaps people who you thought were your friends or even family members who you believed loved you, abandoned you rather than offering their support.

God didn't have to come to us in human form as Jesus. Jesus didn't have to suffer and die on the cross. Surely our all-knowing, all-powerful God could have devised any number of ways to cleanse our sins and provide our salvation. Or God could have just smote us all, wiped mankind off the earth all together, and started over.

But God didn't. He came to us as a baby with humble beginnings. He grew into a man who had no possessions or home. A man who gave his life in the most terrible kind of suffering for us that we might live eternally with him in Heaven someday.

God loves us. He loves us so much that he was willing to walk more than a few miles in our shoes. No matter the hardship you are facing there is always one you can turn to who understands. Jesus knows your physical pain. Jesus knows your emotional suffering. Jesus understands when you ask, "God, isn't there any other way?" Jesus knows the paralyzing fears you face. Jesus has felt the sting of loneliness.

But even if everyone else has left you, Jesus will not abandon you. Jesus will be with you always. Jesus knows the strength God will give you to face tomorrow. Jesus knows the comfort God will bring to your grief. Jesus knows God will be faithful to complete his work.

You can not say, "Jesus, you just can not understand." He does, and he wants to take you to his Daddy, your Daddy. He wants you to know his Father as intimatley as he does.

No Not One

Word Written by Johnson Oatman, Jr.

There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus
No, not one! No, not one!
None else could heal all our souls diseases
No, not one! No, not one!

Jesus knows all about our struggles
He will guide till the day is done
There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus
No, not one! No, not one!

No friend like Him is so high and holy
No, not one! No, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly
No, not one! No, not one!

There's not an hour that He is not near us
No, not one! No, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us
No, not one! No, not one!

"And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. ."
~Luke 22:41-46

In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus final battle was fought and won.
Don't think for a minute that He didn't have a choice, or wasn't tempted to turn away from the cross. He could have called a legion of angels to come rescue Him, He even asked the Father if there was another possible way, but then yielded His will to the Father's, just as He alway had throughout His sojourn here on earth, and love compelled Him to see it through.

Some may argue that Jesus was God and therefore couldn't sin, but temptation isn't temptation if there is no possibility of giving in to it. It is written that He was tempted in ALL ways like us, and yet without sin. That's what made Him the perfect sacrifice; what makes Him the perfect high priest, enabling us draw upon His grace and strength in every trial and temptation as we sojourn here.
He's walked this sod and knows how hard it is to be wrapped in mortal flesh. Can you imagine what it must have been like to leave heaven and become part of His very own creation, subjected to it's weakness and frailties? Then be surrounded by men who just didn't get it a lot of the time, even though they experienced the miraculous daily while walking with Him!

"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need". ~ Hebrews 4:14-16

How did Jesus overcome temptation, where did He find such strength and grace? Like us, He had to seek the Father often in prayer and sometimes fasting, to discover, and find the strength to do, God's will. Right up to the very end. And some of the last words spoken to His disciples were an admonition to pray.

"And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation..."

Jesus poured out His heart to the Father before enduring the torment of His final hours on earth and the agony of the cross. The battle was fought and won on His knees in a place called Gethsemane. When He arose the last time before being taken into custody, we see Jesus calm and at peace, ready to face His accusers with a grace that honored and glorified the Father.
At the very end even the centurion and those witnessing the crucifixion were fearful as they realized "Truly this was the Son of God!" as He committed His Spirit into the Fathers hands with His dying breath.

Friends, as we ponder Jesus sacrifice today let us remember His agony and victory in the garden, which prepared Him for the cross. Let us remember how our precious Saviour cried out to the Father in prayer in His hour of need and find hope in the victory won on His knees, knowing that He is our example in all things.
Let us heed His words to watch and pray lest we enter into temptation for our spirit indeed is willing but our flesh is weak.

Because He overcame we too can overcome in the power and Spirit of His grace. Because He bore and became the sacrifice for our sins , we are justified, holy, sanctified and set apart for the Lord. Because He died and rose again, we too can die to self and be raised a new creation in Christ Jesus!
Isn't that good news, in Spirit and truth?

"For our sake he -God the Father - made Him ( Jesus the Son ) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God".

But let us also remember that even our Lord and Saviour was tempted and tried and found the grace and strength to carry on in prayer. One of the most heartbreaking passages of scripture is when Jesus returns after telling his disciples to watch and pray and finds them sleeping. They knew He was heavy and sorrowful, He had even told them what was coming but they didn't have ears to hear. Sadly He awakens them and asks; "What, could you not watch with me one hour?"

May we arise and be a people who know what it is to spend time on our knees in the presence of the Lord; a people who do not slumber but are ever mindful, watching and ready for the His return. Gethsemane prepared Jesus for the Cross, the Cross led to the Tomb where death was conquered once and for all through the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal Life. Hallelujah!!!

Let us remember the place called Gethsemane in our time of need and pray.
The victory is ours in Jesus Christ our Lord!

Of course, it is reasonably appropriate to be talking about Maundy Thursday this late at night, because this is the night really to remember the Last Supper. Surely, we all know the story. Jesus and His disciples were celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem, and Jesus told the Twelve that each of them would fall away from Him that night.

This is a sleepless night for Jesus, and the beginning of the horrors that we call Good Friday.

Beginning with the Last Supper itself, there is actually some minor discrepancy in the Gospel accounts, though nothing too deeply concerning. In Mark's account, which is pretty basic and well-know, Jesus announces that He will be betrayed, and that it will be one of His Twelve closest disciples who will be the betrayer.

Matthew's and Luke's are very similar. John, very different from the others, does not tell the story of the Last Supper at all, though he does tell about Jesus washing His disciples' feet.

Not surprisingly, the disciples didn't really get what was going on. In any case, there they were ... being told that one of them would betray their friend and teacher. When Peter insisted that he would never do such a thing, Jesus told him plainly that before morning, he would deny Jesus three times.

The group, less Judas Iscariot, then went to Gethsemane to pray. Here, the disciples fell asleep while Jesus went off on His own. Here, we see one of the very important aspects of Jesus' sacrifice. He knew what was to come, and knew that it was going to be terrible. His prayer in Mark 14:35-36 (NIV; courtesy of BibleGateway.com) :

35Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

He knew what He had to do, even if He didn't want to go through it. He would submit to His Father's will, but He longed for another way out.

At Gethsemane, Judas arrived with the Temple guards, and they arrested Jesus. The disciples fled, leaving Jesus alone to face His trial.

Over the course of the night, Jesus was taken to the high priest and the chief priests, and there was much testimony that was clearly false, contradictory, or otherwise corrupted. Unable, therefore, to convincingly condemn Jesus, Caiaphas the  high priest demanded of Jesus "Are you the Christ?" (Mark 14:61). When Jesus answered affirmatively, it was decided that this was enough to condemn Him.

Of course, it would have been ... were it not the truth.

The decision was made to have Jesus put to death -- but that power lay with the Roman government at this time. The trial that would have the authority to kill Jesus could not happen until the morning.

It is a testament to Jesus' boundless love for us that He would consent to go through this kind of punishment, when at any moment He could have ended it. He was the source of authority for those who were condemning Him. He could have proven it at any moment. He could have slain each and every one of His accusers in a moment. He did not have to put up with the abuse and the humiliation that He endured on that night ... much less the next day.

He did it, though, simply because of His boundless love. It is very important, I think, to remember that all through the remembrance of Thursday night and Good Friday. At any moment, any moment at all, He could have ended it all. And had He done so, we would all be without hope.

That's just a little something to remember. Jesus knew His betrayer all along, and knew when he was coming. He didn't have to put up with it. One can imagine that if He had simply said to Peter at dinner, "Oh, by the way, Judas is going to sell me out," Peter might have handled the situation very quickly with his sword. But, again, that would leave us without hope for eternity.

If that isn't humbling, I don't know what is.

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."