Jesus: He Gets Us | Plan 1Sample

Day 6 - He Gets Us: Jesus Walked Our Roads

What keeps you up all night? What fear endlessly circles in your brain and doesn’t let you rest? You can’t shut off the feelings of dread. You can’t quiet the “what ifs?” Perhaps you’re heartbroken over a failing relationship. Or worried about a mortgage. Or waiting on a diagnosis or facing an impossible choice. The night has never before felt this long or this dark.

Have you had a night like this? Jesus did—right before he died.

Picture it. It’s getting on toward midnight in this deserted orchard where Jesus and his friends liked to hang out. Jesus knows the time is short; he’s aware one of his followers has betrayed him, told the authorities where to find him, and now Jesus waits for the soldiers to come and for the insanity to begin.

It’s that weird stillness before the storm.

Jesus has never felt more alone in his life. He asks the guys to sit up with him—but they’re already asleep. So he’s alone, with his mind breaking at the thought of what’s next.

Look at him—there on the ground, his face in the dirt, his fist full of gravel and grass. Here is Jesus in the most honest moment of his life. He knows there is no other way to accomplish his mission.

Plenty of times Jesus had the courage to stand alone, but in this moment, he wished someone could be there with him. And what’s worse, he also knew that in a couple hours, the one who said over dinner, “I will die with you!” will deny he even knows him . . . three times. These were his best friends.

Yes, it’s true. The one who stood bravely against the strongest, most corrupt system of the day, was on his face in fear. The one whose teaching held the attention of thousands, now struggled with words to pray. The one who had captured the curiosity and affection of the crowds, felt betrayed and alone.

On that night, anxiety and loneliness was as real to him as what you may be feeling right now. Jesus knew that for us to be confident in his message, he had to experience these things just like us.

How else could we relate to anything he says if he hadn’t walked in our shoes?

For Jesus, that night was a turning point.