Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane (The Lord's Will Be Done)

Today's Reading:

• Mark 14:22 - 52
  
• Psalm 52:1 - 9

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Mark 14:22 - 52
The Passover meal ended, and Jesus took his disciples to Gethsemane garden at the Mount of Olives.  There Jesus prayed in anguish to his father, begging him to take the cup of suffering away from him.  I read this same story in Matthew and was struck by it then.  Before then I didn't know that Jesus had prayed to avoid the terrible crucifixion.  Even though he prayed in anguish, he did pray that the Lord's will be done, not his. 

This passage reminds me that Jesus was a man.  Of course I know he was a man, but overall I was focused on the divinity of Jesus Christ.  Jesus being the son of God did not in any way diminish his suffering on that terrible day, and Jesus was anguished knowing that it was soon to pass.  In the end, Jesus valued one thing above all -- the Lord's will. 

Sometimes the Lord's plan from us is so far from what we want that it causes us great distress.  But when we follow the Lord's plan, something far greater than what we want comes out of it.  The death of Jesus, however horrible it was (and it truly saddens me just to get close to reading about it again), was the ultimate example of how the will of the Lord always works out for the better, no matter what our flesh wants.  Thank you, Jesus for following the Lord's will to the grave, bearing that terrible price, and earning salvation for each and every single one of us. 

When I read the name of the gardens, I decided to do a little research to see if the place exists today.  It does!  I love it when you can find places and things referenced in the bible in today's time.  Below is a picture of the Garden in Gethsemane:

 

Psalm 52:1 - 9
Psalm 52:1 says:

Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior?  Don't you realize God's justice continues forever?

I found that to be a very powerful verse -- forever.  The Lord's justice continues forever.  There is no escaping it.  So for us, for the godly, for those who honor the eternal justice of the Lord, this psalm has perfect closure (52:9):

I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done.  I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people.

The Lord's justice carries forever.  I will praise the Lord forever, so that I can earn a place in the Kingdom of God.  God help those who warrant the Lord's justice.