You and Me, and Gethsemane-Part Two
This is the second Spiritual Nugget on the powerful message by Chuck Swindoll on Gethsemane. If you would like to listen to this message, go to: http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Insight_for_Living/Archives.asp. Please note that we have added our own perspective on this message.
Gethsemane-The Oil Press
Gethsemane is where the real battles will be fought in our lives–the
battle over our flesh and our will. We will be pressed and crushed to the point
of feeling that our life will be crushed out of us.
The struggle for Jesus was not at Calvary, it was at Gethsemane. Please hear us
out on this.
Yes, Jesus suffered will facing Herod and Pilate. Yes, Jesus suffered while
being beaten and whipped. Yes, Jesus suffered while carrying the cross. Yes,
Jesus suffered when the nails were driven into His body. Yes, Jesus suffered
while hanging on the cross. Yes, Jesus suffered while being mocked. Yes, Jesus
died on the cross. Yes, Jesus paid the price for sin when He died the second
death on the cross. But when it came to all these events and ultimately death
on the cross, Jesus did not struggle to do the Father's will. Jesus struggle
and battle was at Gethsemane. Because He suffered and struggled at Gethsemane,
he was able to do the Father's will. It is the same for us. If we will go
through Gethsemane, we are more than willing to 'take up our cross'.
What is the Gethsemane Experience?
Gethsemane is when we are confronted with God's will and our will. It
is when we go through some of the most trying times in our life. We will be
overwhelmed with emotions. Emotions of which some will call
negative emotions. However, are these emotions negative if they lead us
to the Father and they ultimately help us to be more like Jesus?
What did Jesus experience?
Jesus, God in the flesh, but also fully man, experienced horrific
anguish. He experienced emotions of sorrow, agony, heartache, loss,
overwhelmed, all alone, distressed, troubled, helpless.
Jesus experienced the dying of self. No other time than Gethsemane did Jesus
fully understand what it is like to be a human being
and the battle within. Hear His cry: "Father,
if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still,
not my will but yours be done." Luke
22:42
Jesus was confronted with his mortality as a man. And
experienced His mortality all alone as even His best friends slept through His
greatest struggle. Do we expect and want our life to be different than our
Savior's? How self-centered can we be?
Embrace it!
Don't run from Gethsemane, embrace it. Jesus entered the garden knowing
the turmoil waiting for Him. He knew He had to go through Gethsemane in order
to have the will power to go to the cross.
Word of advice-don't try and stop people from going through their Gethsemane. You are only doing them a disservice. True love, love like the Father of God towards His son, allows a person to go through Gethsemane-the oil press. Are you at the garden of Gethsemane? Be comforted to know that Your Heavenly Father is with you and will send His angels to minister to you.
Good Easter/Resurrection links:
Easter E-Cards-over 50 e-cards
http://cards.crossdaily.com/
Easter Holiday Section-learn more about Easter and the Resurrection
http://easter.crossdaily.com
Easter Inspirations-poems and stories
http://inspirations.crossdaily.com
http://www.javaforjesus.com/walk.html
Great Flash Presentation of Crucifixion
http://www.javaforjesus.com/easter.html
This has several great flash presentations
http://www.gentle.org/Diamonds/carpent.htm
http://warriorsofchrist.com/fiction/story/3.shtml
http://www.joyfulheart.com/easter/
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/2482/easter/easter.html
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/5430/Easter.htm
http://www.konnections.com/Kcundick/crucifix.html
http://inspirationalstories.com/2_eas.html
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