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[The Blog] @PDCPC - Holy Week Devotional Day 4: Maundy Thursday

Holy Week Devotional Day 4: Maundy Thursday

Posted by Kathy Aposhian on

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

"Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 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.

When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Agony in Gethsemane by Edgardo de Guzman, used by permission.

Jesus Arrested

"While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

Luke 22:39-71  (NIV)

Kiss of Judas
Swanson, John August. Kiss of Judas, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56551 [retrieved March 30, 2021]. Original source: www.JohnAugustSwanson.com - copyright 2008 by John August Swanson.

REFLECTION

Have you ever had something very difficult to do, and you felt you were all alone accomplishing that goal? That is how I see Jesus in this account. He is coming to the culmination of the purpose for which He came, and the most difficult part of His journey is just ahead. Jesus has come to the garden to seek His Father and draw strength for this hour. Do you wonder if Jesus was really hoping that God would have said, “No, Jesus, you don’t have to do this, come home?” Or do you think that Jesus realizes that He will be all alone in this final task? He knows one of His disciples has already betrayed Him. He knows another will, and the others will scatter. Even now, His disciples aren’t able to stay awake to pray for Jesus.

Has there been a time in your own life where you have felt all alone? Sometimes, in our journey with Christ, we are called to travel a road different from others, and the only person we can rely on is Jesus. He knows what we are experiencing because He has traveled this road. Jesus sought His Father at His hour of anguish. I love the picture of an angel coming to strengthen Jesus. He knew where His strength would come from. Jesus was obedient to the will of the Father, and God raised Him to a position of glory and honor. When you face challenges, when God calls us to travel a difficult journey, look to Jesus for your strength and hope. He loves us and will give us all we need to sustain us.  


PRAYER

Jesus, our Suffering Servant, the Lamb of God, sacrificed for us. O Lord, it is so humbling to think how much it cost you to redeem us, to take all our sin upon you so that you could cover our filthy rags by your righteousness and present us pure before a holy God. What kind of pure and perfect love is this? That while we were your enemies, going our own way, you gave up everything. Thank you, Jesus! Thank you that your love knows no bounds. Your love is available for each man, woman, and child, regardless of color, creed, ethnicity, status, class; you gave it all for us. Thank you for demonstrating ultimate obedience to the Father. Please help us to be obedient to all that you place before us. May we not fear, but remember that perfect love drives out fear. Thank you for your perfect gift of love and grace. All glory, honor, and praise belong to you. We exalt and worship you O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Amen!

By Kathy Aposhian

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

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