April 15, 2022

Apr 15, 2022

Matt 36:38-39 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch[a] with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
I was speaking with someone this morning about the movie “The Passion of Christ”. GREAT movie, everyone (old enough) should see this movie, but I have to admit, it was SO hard to watch. The hours of torture and pain that our Christ endured so that you and I may not spend eternity where we deserve…. The type of intense torture. It’s so difficult to watch. I cannot imagine how Jesus in His human form could possibly have been able to agree to going through this, because He knew how bad it would be. He knew it had to be horrendous to cover ALL of our sins. He also knew this is what He came to earth to do. So, he prayed “your will, not mine”.
Luke 22:44 “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”
It is very hard for us to even imagine His anguish, but we have all felt anguish of some kind. That prayer is still the hardest prayer sometimes … “Your will, not mine”.
So Jesus took the painful journey to the cross and the tomb.

BUT WAIT!
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes
He arose a Victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign
He arose! (He arose)
He arose! (He arose)
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

God’s perfect will, God’s perfect plan! On Easter we celebrate the amazing resurrection of our Lord. This means that all who follow Him, will rise as well. We are not doomed to spend eternity in hell because God gave this incredible gift…. Jesus.
Know today that if Jesus had not relinquished his will to God, we would not be free from death. Instead, today death has no hold on us, and we praise Jesus for His amazing love.
I hope this Easter all of you will sing a little louder, worship with hands held high to a God of miracles.