The arrest of Jesus reveals the truth about the brokenness of the human condition. Neither the disciples nor the religious leaders are willing to trust God. Both groups attempt to seize control of the situation in an effort to pursue their own agenda. In the midst of this Jesus models restraint, an essential quality of God and of those that would be His disciples.
Godly restraint is possible when we pray as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “not my will, but your will be done.” But, that is much easier to say, than do. The first step toward surrendering control of our lives to God, our present as well as our future, is awareness and acceptance of our human condition.
In the Garden Jesus asked his friends to stay alert and support him in His hour of need. They slept.
In Matthew’s Gospel Judas is the only one who calls Jesus rabbi. Considering Jesus is the Messiah that was a pretty superficial title. Matthew is pointing out that Jesus came as the Messiah to reveal God but Judas only saw him as a means to an end that he, Judas, preferred.
At the moment of his arrest Jesus called his disciples to follow his lead by showing restraint because Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The disciples choose violence.
Still today, while Jesus calls his disciples to Go and Make disciples, they sleep. Still today, there are those who twist and turn Jesus into a Messiah of their own making. Still today, many of the followers of Jesus prefer violence as a means to achieve their goals. Why is it so hard to get it right? Because we can’t fix our problem. There is one and only one solution:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live in my body, I live by faith, indeed, by the faithfulness of God’s Son, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2: 19-20
What does today’s reading reveal to you
about God?
What does it reveal to you about yourself?
Think about what God wants you to do
or remember about this passage.
Does God want you to change anything in your life?
21-Sep-11 Matthew 26:69-27:10
No comments:
Post a Comment