Then Jesus went back to the followers and said, "You are still sleeping and resting? The time has come for the Son of Man to be given to sinful people. Stand up! We must go. Here comes the man that is giving me {to my enemies}." (ERV)
Full Text
Key Thought
Must! It's a hard word, isn't it. "You must do this ..." "You must do that ..." Must! Jesus knows this is "must" time for him. He has earnestly prayed. The Father's will is now made clear to him. "The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinful people. Get up, we must go." (NCV cf. Matthew 16:21) But the must for Jesus was much stronger. That's what the prayer in Gethsemane was all about. Was it a "God must" that he follow the path that will unfold? Yes! It was the Father's will. It was the divine necessity. It was a "God must" that Jesus will now fulfill. In our time, we will receive very few "musts" that are "God musts." But these divine necessities are irrevocable and immutable for us just as Jesus' "must" was for him. If only we can embrace this divine path of obedience with the faithfulness that he did.
With his help, we will!
Today's Prayer
Holy and righteous God, I want my life to be a holy praise offered up to you. I want to obey your will and uphold your truth. Please give me the wisdom to know those "divine musts" in my life and the courage to embrace them as faithfully as Jesus did. In the name of your obedient Son and my Savior I pray. Amen.
Then Jesus went with his followers to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to his followers, "Sit here while I go there and pray." Jesus told Peter and the two sons of Zebedee to come with him. Then Jesus began to be very sad and troubled. Jesus said to Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, "My soul is full of sorrow. My heart is breaking with sadness. Stay awake here with me and wait." Then Jesus walked a little farther away from them. Jesus fell to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't give me this cup {of suffering}. But do what you want, not what I want." Then Jesus went back to his followers. Jesus found his followers sleeping. Jesus said to Peter, "You men could not stay awake with me for one hour? Stay awake and pray for strength against temptation. Your spirit wants to do what is right. But your body is weak." Then Jesus went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this {painful} thing to be taken from me, and if I must do it, then I pray that what you want will be done." Then Jesus went back to the followers. Again Jesus found them sleeping. Their eyes were very tired. So Jesus left them and went away one more time and prayed. This third time he prayed, he said the same thing. Then Jesus went back to the followers and said, "You are still sleeping and resting? The time has come for the Son of Man to be given to sinful people.
Those children are people with physical bodies. So Jesus himself became like those people and had the same experiences people have. Jesus did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death. That one is the devil. Jesus became like those people and died so that he could free them. They were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death. Clearly, it is not angels that Jesus helps. Jesus helps the people who are from Abraham. For this reason Jesus had to be made like us his brothers and sisters in every way. Jesus became like people so that he could be their merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. Then Jesus could bring forgiveness for the people's sins. And now Jesus can help those people who are tempted. Jesus is able to help because he himself suffered and was tempted. Hebrews 2:14-18 (ERV)
After three days they found him. Jesus was sitting in the temple area with the religious teachers, listening and asking them questions. Everyone heard him. They were amazed at his understanding and wise answers. When Jesus' parents saw him, they were amazed. His mother said to him, "Son, why did you do this to us? Your father and I were very worried about you. We have been looking for you." Jesus said to them, "Why did you have to look for me? You should have known that I must be where my Father's (God's) work is!" Luke 2:46-49 (ERV)
Then Jesus began to teach his followers that the Son of Man must suffer many things. Jesus taught that the Son of Man would not be accepted by the older Jewish leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the law. Jesus taught that the Son of Man must be killed and then rise from death after three days. Jesus told them everything that would happen. He did not keep anything secret. Peter spoke to Jesus alone. Peter criticized Jesus for saying {those things}. Mark 8:31-32 (ERV)
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