Quote from Forum Archives on April 17, 2003, 3:48 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Today I'd like to share with you a message about the final day of
Jesus' life on earth, the day in which He was betrayed. We
remember that day today, a day we call Maundy Thursday. Jesus
and His disciples celebrated the Jewish feast of the Passover,
at which time Jesus directly revealed that He would be betrayed
(though He had also told His disciples throughout His 3 year
ministry that He would ultimately be betrayed, killed, and 3 days
later, arise again. Jesus spoke in many parables, though, and
His disciples, at the time, simply couldn't fathom what was going
on.

Isn't it that way with each of us, too? As we go through life,
isn't it often the case that we simply not grasp what's going on
around us and understand it all - perhaps until some time later?
I can certainly say that about many of my present difficulties.
One thing I do know, though, is that Jesus Christ has made a way
for me. He will be my constant guide (if I continue to abide in
Him and include Him in my life).

What about today? What about this message that we have been
given the opportunity to consider - and to remember again and
again, particularly in the annual times in which we celebrate and
remember what Jesus has done for us? What about now, today?
What about the days ahead?

I encourage you to read at least one Gospel account of these
moments of suffering - the message below cites Mark 14 - you can
read that account and possibly other Gospel accounts as well.
What is the Word of God telling us about Jesus Christ and about
ourselves today?

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

Maundy Thursday

Which day?

Thursday before Easter

Earliest Observance?

Fourth Century

Demographic Practice?

Christians

cross

This The Jewel of the Renaissance Cross This holy day is
associated with the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-29), the agony in
the Garden (Luke 22:39-46), and the arrest of Jesus (Matthew
26:46-50). Maundy arises from the Latin word mandatum meaning
commandment. This is the first word in Christ's statement at
the Last Supper, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love
one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one
another." (John 13:34)
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Wishing you a blessed and holy Lent!
You have received this message because you have signed up to
receive daily devotions from Christianbook.com during Lent. We
have chosen excerpts from one of the array of devotionals
available at Christianbook.com. We hope that this service
enhances your journey through the season of Lent and prepares
you for the festal shout on Easter morning: He is risen!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Jesus' Lonely Road, Devotional Guides for Lent and Holy Week"
by Robert C. Bankhead (CSS Publishing Company, 2001).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

April 17, 2003
Maundy Thursday
Jesus Prayed In The Garden
Mark 14:32-50

>From the Upper Room into the dark night Jesus led the disciples
to a private, secluded spot in the Garden of Gethsemane. Asking
the band, now eleven, to sit and wait for him, he took the
inner circle, Peter, James, and John, a bit further and asked
them to watch for him, so that he would not be disturbed as he
prepared himself for the coming ordeal. Knowing what he must
face, he did not want to begin until he had spent time with
God, his Father. Well did he know the spiritual strength of
quiet prayer and devotion. Often throughout his ministry he had
withdrawn from the busy crowds to pray when there was an
important decision to be made or a difficult task to be
accomplished. He had found in quiet moments with God the
guidance and strength and aid he needed.

We should not pass lightly by the ominous clouds hanging over
his death. It was no routine prayer that Jesus intoned. His
heart was heavy; his spirit anguished. He shared his agony with
the disciples, telling them that he was deeply distressed. To
God he confessed his fear, begging God that if there were any
way possible that he be spared the Passion. It was an honest
prayer. He earnestly wished he did not have to suffer and die.
Even though he had known his ministry must come to this, even
though he had come to Jerusalem expecting to die, he made one
final appeal for God to spare him.

The prayer, however, was a devotional discipline of perfect
submission to the will of God. Even as he prayed to be
delivered, he declared his obedience. He prayed most fervently,
"Not what I wish, but your will, O Father." He was the obedient
Son, fully willing to finish what God had sent him to do, to
complete what he had come into the world to accomplish.

Jesus' devotion is a contrast to the disciples' abandonment.
Tired and sleepy from the long day, realizing they would not
return to Bethany to rest this night, they settled down, got
comfortable, and fell asleep. This anticipated the desertion
Jesus had predicted and their flight at his arrest. In the
garden Jesus was alone in his prayers.

In the garden, secluded from the crowds who had supported
Jesus, Judas found the opportunity he had been looking for to
betray Jesus. Judas, realizing that Jesus would go to the
garden to pray, had gone to find the Jewish leaders, the chief
priests and scribes and elders, who had agreed to pay Judas for
leading them to Jesus at a time they could arrest him. He led
them to the garden, and as he had promised, he kissed Jesus to
identify him to the mob. Jesus submitted willingly, and the
disciples ran away in fear. The ordeal of the Passion had
begun.

As you reflect on Jesus' prayer in the garden, think of
occasions in your own life when you have found spiritual
strength in moments of prayer and devotion. Withdrawal into the
quiet discipline of prayer prepares us for difficult times.
Brief moments of devotion spent in the presence of God give us
strength and guidance and help for living through the day. They
are times to be treasured in our spiritual pilgrimage. We have
not faced the ordeal Jesus endured, but just as he found
spiritual strength, we also are strengthened in prayer.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you enjoyed the abridged version of today's devotional, you
may want to purchase " Jesus' Lonely Road" at:
www.christianbook.com/html/static/18612.html?p=1016716

Sincerely,
Your Friends at Christianbook.com
www.christianbook.com

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=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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