God’s Story Is Our Story: From Genesis To JesusSample

Reflecting on the last week: How did Jesus do it? He knew what awaited him. Isaiah prophesied a day when God would swallow up death and Jesus knew that bitter drink would be nothing but misery, shame and terrible pain. Just think, he was about to die for his disciples, and not even they could stay awake to pray with him. We would be livid. Don’t you know what I’m doing for you? Don’t you get the pain I am about to undertake? And Jesus is certainly frustrated—but by the third time they fall asleep he accepts it and continues down the path which God’s set before him. After all, these are exactly the kinds of people - weak, sinful, selfish, rebellious - he came to seek and save. How much mercy and grace and compassion and kindness and generosity must have filled Jesus' heart for him to simply put one foot in front of the other on the way to the cross? It is shocking that just after one of Jesus’ most challenging teachings about judgment, we see him showing so much grace and love. It is exactly what we need to see when we experience the fear of God’s justice against our wrongdoing. Why? Because we have no hope apart from his grace. But can his grace cover up even my worst sin? Right here, in the garden, we begin to see that Jesus’ grace is deeper and more limitless than we can imagine. If it can be given to sleepy disciples who run away and betray him, then surely it can be given to us. Why should we fear God’s judgment? Jesus graciously chose to drink the punishment of our judgment: death. So fear no more.