“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Matthew 26:36
Gardens are usually wonderful, peaceful places where we can calm our spirits and focus on what is important. But on the night Jesus spent in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was in agony. Gethsemane means “oil press,” and was a place where olives were crushed and squeezed to extract their oil.
In this garden, on the final night of his life, Jesus was crushed and squeezed to the limit. He was crushed in his awareness of the cup of suffering that he would drink the next day at the cross, and he was squeezed by the knowledge that his disciples couldn’t even stay awake and would abandon him. He “felt sorrow to the point of death.”
This is why we can say that Jesus knows what it is like to be human – to be touched by the temptations and trials of life. Why? Because he was fully human! And yet, Jesus would willingly drink the cup that had been prepared for him, and he prayed that God’s will would be done.
As we will study together this week, many people throughout history have struggled with either the humanity or divinity of Jesus. What we hope to discover is that Jesus was fully human – a fact that is both necessary and wonderful for us. Then, in weeks to come, we will see that he is fully God – another necessary and wonderful thing for us!
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron
Gardens are usually wonderful, peaceful places where we can calm our spirits and focus on what is important. But on the night Jesus spent in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was in agony. Gethsemane means “oil press,” and was a place where olives were crushed and squeezed to extract their oil.
In this garden, on the final night of his life, Jesus was crushed and squeezed to the limit. He was crushed in his awareness of the cup of suffering that he would drink the next day at the cross, and he was squeezed by the knowledge that his disciples couldn’t even stay awake and would abandon him. He “felt sorrow to the point of death.”
This is why we can say that Jesus knows what it is like to be human – to be touched by the temptations and trials of life. Why? Because he was fully human! And yet, Jesus would willingly drink the cup that had been prepared for him, and he prayed that God’s will would be done.
As we will study together this week, many people throughout history have struggled with either the humanity or divinity of Jesus. What we hope to discover is that Jesus was fully human – a fact that is both necessary and wonderful for us. Then, in weeks to come, we will see that he is fully God – another necessary and wonderful thing for us!
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron
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