The Word became flesh

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, glory of the one and only son, who came from the father, full of grace and truth.

People enter & exit our lives at random times. We are often left wondering what happened to them after they have departed. In some cases we know that they have passed on to their great reward. For us who are left behind, survivors so-to-speak, life goes on.

It's Thursday of Holy Week, we call it Maundy Thursday. Traditionally we celebrate the Last Supper on Thursday of Holy Week. On this day, Jesus gathered His disciples to share the Passover meal and some final thoughts before His Passion began to unfold. Matthew 26: 36-39 give us the details of this difficult time for our Savior after the meal. 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. He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them "my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me." Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

In the Bible passages from John Chapter 1 and Matthew Chapter 26, we know that Christ was God made flesh. Jesus suffered the same temptations, fears and pain as you and I. This poignant glimpse into the humanity if Jesus, in His hour of need reveals two very important lessons for us to hold onto. First, when in a time of deep turmoil or struggle, we should gather friends to pray with us. Jesus’ selected friends at Gethsemane were Peter, James, and John. Not too many, and not too few. He needed help praying in this desperate hour. And still, he felt a need to continue to teach those who would carry on when He was gone. The second lesson is that Jesus surrendered His will and desires to the will of God the Father. The words "yet not as I will, but as you will" are profound. Jesus acknowledged the humanity within Himself, and acknowledged the supremacy of His Father. Those final words embody trust in His Father that we too need to embody in our own lives.

PRAYER: God of all mercy we look to you in our times of hardship and struggle. We reach out to You when we are hurting and in need of comfort. We desperately seek Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Strengthen us Father. Fill us with the faith we need to carry on. Help us to overcome our own desires O Lord. Let Your will reign in our lives, just as in the life of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is in His Holy name that we pray, Amen.