Thursday April 13th

Mark 14:32-42

                 By Thursday everything begins to quickly move toward the cross.  In Mark 14:32-42, we see the depth of Christ’s agony as He prepares to pay the ultimate price for the sin of mankind.

                 What are the things that you would do if you knew you only had a few hours left to live?  You would probably surround yourself with family and friends; those who love you and who you can draw strength from.  This is what Jesus is doing.

                 Jesus was overcome with the thought of His impending death and He prays three times for the Father to take this “cup” from Him.  This “cup” is the full wrath of God that is poured out upon sin.  Being the God-man, Jesus knows that the pain that is coming: the crown of thorns, the stripes upon His back, and the nails that will pierce His body.  He is so overcome by this that Luke 22:44 says that He literally sweat blood!

                 But notice how Jesus shapes His prayer.  It’s not centered on His own physical desires, but upon the Father’s will.  Jesus surrenders Himself to the Father’s plan.

                 In that moment, could you surrender yourself to the Father’s will?  Do you typically surrender yourself to God’s will in the “easy” moments of life?  If not, then in the difficult times and in facing the most painful of tests, you won’t surrender to His will either.  Jesus is able accept the Father’s will because of the surrendered life He led everyday.

                 Today is the day to surrender yourself to the will of God.  Not when it’s easy or when it gets hard, but in the moment you have now!

Pastor Paul Beam

Events of Thursday:

*Jesus send Peter and John to secure the Upper Room
(Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13)

*Jesus eats the Passover meal with His disciples & washes their feet
(Matthew 26:20-29; Mark 14:17-23; Luke 22:14-30; John 13:1-17:26)

*Jesus and the disciples leave for Gethsemane; spend time in prayer
(Matthew 26:30-46; Mark 14:26-42; Luke 22:31-46)