I know when most of you read these words Easter will be over, but I figured I would share some thoughts on the subject matter anyways.
While I was driving to work on Good Friday morning, I decided it being Easter I would listen to my audio Bible CD’s concerning Jesus? death, burial and ressurection.
While the account is recorded four different times in what’s called ‘The Gospels? (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) I decided to listen to John’s account of the story. I started in John chapter 17, which is the chapter where Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before he is arrested and put on trial before Pontius Pilate.
Those who have not ever read it, the chapter is broken down basically into three parts. Jesus prays for himself, he prays for his followers or disciples and he prays for the rest of the believers (those who are not his immediate disciples, but will become future disciples).
I appreciate this chapter of John because I believe it shows the heart of who Jesus is. A heart that is not only wanting to honor and give glory to his Father (God) through his death, but a heart that is selfless and still concerned about the well being of his closest friends.
According to Luke 22:43-44 he was in such anguish he started to sweat drops of blood.
So, you have Jesus the son of God, who is about to enter his darkest hour, sweating drops of blood because of the intense pressure of knowing he was about the suffer the worst kind of torture and death. He is also about to take the sin of all humanity upon himself yet still takes the time to forget about himself to pray for what had become his closest friends and for those who hadn’t even heard of him or believed he was the son of God at that point.
The Apostle Paul in a letter to the Philippians said that we are ‘to have the same mindset of Christ.?
‘Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.? (Philippians 2:6-8)
I understand and respect not everybody is a Christian or adheres to Christian beliefs as it relates to holidays like Christmas or Easter. But as a Christian, I love having a holiday that reminds me to focus on these things. To reflect upon that, Jesus Christ in love for his father, love for his friends and love for the entire world gave his life, so we might know the ‘full measure of his joy? (John 17:13).
I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and didn’t eat too much candy.