As it is the Easter weekend and we are going to pause our journey through Genesis and turn our attention to the Holy Week narrative
Maundy Thursday: Matt 26:36-46
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’
39 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.’
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?’ he asked Peter. 41 ‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’
42 He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.’
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!’
Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Hebrews 12:2
On the night before Jesus was betrayed, he brought all of his closest friends together and they shared a meal, remembering the Passover (a Jewish festival that remembers that they were saved from Israel by God at the expense of the death of the eldest son from every family who was not protected by God). After the meal Jesus retreats to Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. Gethsemane literally means ‘oil press.’ It was the place where olives were crushed and turned into oil.
Jesus was distraught, to the point of death. So he asks his disciples to watch out for him. In his most challenging moment, he longs for the support and companionship of his friends. He goes on a little further and prays, ‘let this cup be taken from me.’
In the Old Testament it speaks of the cup of God’s wrath.
15 This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: ‘Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. 16 When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them.’
Jeremiah 25:15-16
It describes the punishment of God poured out upon his enemies for their sins and wickedness. Jesus gains nothing personally from the cross, he already has all that he needs. He does nothing to deserve the cross, he has lived without sin or blame. And when he looks forwards he finds himself full of fear.
Yet, Jesus chooses radical obedience and love. What gave him the courage to walk towards pain, shame and judgment?
It was for the joy awaiting him.
What is Hebrews talking about? Where is the joyin this story? Overwhelmed with fear, Jesus looked through the cross and he saw you. You are his joy. Facing the hardest night of his life and the greatest fears imaginable, he walked forwards in love for you. Perfect love casts out all fear.
