Following The MessiahSample

He Waited In the Garden… For You & Me:

Jesus had come to this spot before.  This garden of olive trees was a peaceful place where He could get away and talk to His Father.  Jesus could clearly see the temple from His vantage point in the garden.  When Jesus looked up and saw the mob coming with their torches, clubs and swords, He knew the time had come to begin the final steps of fulfilling God’s plan for salvation.  In that moment Jesus had a choice.  He could see the soldiers coming that would arrest Him.  He could have run away, escaped over the Mount of Olives back into Bethany.  He had escaped angry crowds before.  In Nazareth the people tried to throw Him off a cliff, but He escaped.  

Tonight was different.  Tonight Jesus knew escaping was not an option.  He stayed and waited for the approaching crowd of people to get closer and closer and closer, entering the garden, walking up to Jesus,  and a kiss from Judas.  Our Lord waited there for you and me.  He knew what needed to be done. He knew this was the beginning of the end of God’s plan that would lead to a painful, gruesome execution.  I often wonder what was going through Jesus’ mind as that mob of people approached.  We know He thought about His disciples, but He may have also thought about all the people throughout the history of the world that would receive salvation because of this selfless act of sacrifice.  He waited there in that dark garden for you and for me.

Watch episode 9  of Following the Messiah.