April 6th, 2023
Maundy Thursday, April 6
Sunday’s Coming
By: Lori Ennis
“Saying, ‘Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.’ And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:42-44
Of all the days of Holy week, second only to the miraculous resurrection of Christ, this day is most meaningful to me.
This is the night that Jesus washed His disciples' feet and told them that the greatest commandment was to love one another, full stop. Maundy comes from the Latin for ‘command,’ and this is the way I try to live every day–loving the people God puts in my path, despite how hard people can make it to love them.
Hey. Just keeping it real. 🙂
But it’s this time in the Garden of Gethsemane that endears my Jesus to me so much. This is where His humanity is most relatable. He knows what is about to come, and it causes Him such grief and stress, He sweats blood. That medical phenomenon is called hematohidrosis, a very rare condition that occurs when you’re under extreme stress and anxiety.
It’s here that He asks His Father to remove the horror that’s about to happen…if there is any way to do so and still the weight of sin and death to be removed from His children, that was His prayer. But He went on, knowing that there wasn’t, and out of love, committed His spirit to His Father’s will, not the cry of His human flesh.
I’ve been there. And though I didn’t sweat blood when my son died, I cried out, begging God to remove the pain. Remove the horror. Remove the thorn that would pain me for the rest of my life or take me out of this earth because the pain felt too unbearable. I still cry out, if honest, because the pain still gets that heavy, 13 years later.
Maybe you’ve been there too.
Maybe you’re there now.
So take hope in this: Jesus could have stopped it all–saved Himself and left us to our own devices.
But He didn’t. On this night of the holiest of weeks, He allowed Himself to be arrested and led to what would be a horrific crucifixion. Because He LOVES you, and He WILL wipe every tear away.
Sunday’s coming, friend. Hold on…Sunday’s coming!
Sunday’s Coming
By: Lori Ennis
“Saying, ‘Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.’ And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:42-44
Of all the days of Holy week, second only to the miraculous resurrection of Christ, this day is most meaningful to me.
This is the night that Jesus washed His disciples' feet and told them that the greatest commandment was to love one another, full stop. Maundy comes from the Latin for ‘command,’ and this is the way I try to live every day–loving the people God puts in my path, despite how hard people can make it to love them.
Hey. Just keeping it real. 🙂
But it’s this time in the Garden of Gethsemane that endears my Jesus to me so much. This is where His humanity is most relatable. He knows what is about to come, and it causes Him such grief and stress, He sweats blood. That medical phenomenon is called hematohidrosis, a very rare condition that occurs when you’re under extreme stress and anxiety.
It’s here that He asks His Father to remove the horror that’s about to happen…if there is any way to do so and still the weight of sin and death to be removed from His children, that was His prayer. But He went on, knowing that there wasn’t, and out of love, committed His spirit to His Father’s will, not the cry of His human flesh.
I’ve been there. And though I didn’t sweat blood when my son died, I cried out, begging God to remove the pain. Remove the horror. Remove the thorn that would pain me for the rest of my life or take me out of this earth because the pain felt too unbearable. I still cry out, if honest, because the pain still gets that heavy, 13 years later.
Maybe you’ve been there too.
Maybe you’re there now.
So take hope in this: Jesus could have stopped it all–saved Himself and left us to our own devices.
But He didn’t. On this night of the holiest of weeks, He allowed Himself to be arrested and led to what would be a horrific crucifixion. Because He LOVES you, and He WILL wipe every tear away.
Sunday’s coming, friend. Hold on…Sunday’s coming!
Recent
Archive
2024
January
New Year, Fresh StartA Good Plan for the New YearCall on MeHope Has a NameHolidays in Rear ViewHolinessHow to Have our Mind TransformedNew Year, New YouA Pattern of RenewalVictory in JesusFear Knot? Fear Not.Seek the LORDBetterWhere to Place your TrustRadical GraceGenerosity God's WayThe Poor and NeedyThe Open Hand ConceptA Need that Burdens your HeartHow's Your Heart?Who Are You?Testing in the Wilderness
February
CallingDon't HideWhere You AreJust the Two of UsInvesting in the Kingdom of GodThe Golden RuleAgainst the GrainUnexplainable JoyThe Power of God's WordFollow MeThe God of the ImpossibleOut on a LimbWe All Face ItTrue JusticeGatherGood SoilDon't Put God in a BoxBe BraveCulture CheckFeed His Sheep. Love His People.Jesus Revealed
March
Jesus in His GloryNot QuantityHow Much God Loves ChildrenWhere Two or Three are GatheredLike Little ChildrenFocusAmazing GraceBeing Confronted By JesusKingdom FruitWedding AttireCome with a Hungry HeartLive and Lead Like HimTough LoveBe on your GuardKeep WatchTalentsSlow DownBeing Led by the SpiritKingdom WatchThey Are Us. We Are Them.Jesus Gave His All For UsHe is Risen, Indeed
2023
January
Daily PowerOur Heart MusclesBlessing Our NeighborsStay in the FightTime to ChangeWell, this is Practical!Keep it to YourselfHumility in FastingSupernatural WisdomMore of YouThese Crazy PeopleCrazy PeopleConvictionOverwhelmedAs Legitimate as Porcelain PieHunger For MoreLove the LightA Fulfillment that DeliversSatisfactionContent With What IsHow Great is Our God
Categories
Tags
no tags
No Comments