Remember the Whole Story

[Jesus said,] My soul is sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Matthew 26:38 (KJV)

My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me.

Matthew 26:38 (NLT)

So many times, we turn the death of Jesus into a storybook tale with a happy ending: the resurrection. I truly appreciate the reality of suffering depicted by Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Jesus came from heaven, God’s son, and lived as a man.

Today as we celebrate the first day of spring, I am reminded of the new life that Jesus promises us. He did rise from the grave, so that we might have eternal life! He makes us new in him! It is amazing! However, we cannot forget the suffering that Jesus went through during the process of His crucifixion and simply revel in the joy of the resurrection. We need to remember the whole story.

Jesus experienced temptation and felt pain. Emotional pain struck His heart as He was betrayed and abandoned by His closest friends. He also felt physical pain, unbearable to the point of death, yet He continued in suffering.

Verse 42 demonstrates the battle between flesh and spirit as Jesus asks of God, His Father, if there be any other way. Jesus, as a man, did not want to suffer and die. Yet, Jesus, as our Savior, was willing to fulfill the plan of the Father. Are you willing to give up your plans and your feelings in order to complete God’s will in your life?

In verse 53, Jesus says,

Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and He would send them instantly?

Jesus knew the reality of the power of God! How much more difficult for Him to continue suffering, knowing all He had to do was speak the word and angels would be summoned to deliver Him! Jesus overcame temptation. Jesus bore our punishment because of love.

This was not easy for Jesus. He did not use some supernatural anesthesia to help Him get through it. The crucifixion of Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice, a labor of love, secured redemption for all mankind. Will you accept it?

Will you believe in Jesus?

It’s as easy as A, B, C:

A. Admit you are a sinner.

B. Believe that Jesus is God’s only son, that He died for you, that He rose again, and that He sent His spirit to dwell within you.

C. Confess your sins to God, and He is faithful and just to forgive you.

This first day of spring become a new person in Christ Jesus! 🌷