We join Jesus in Garden of Gesthamene, where Jesus has often joined us. When we cry out to God, when we suffer, when we want it all to be different somehow – when we have no idea even how to offer to God to change the current course of action. We cry out – sometimes with words and sometimes without even the words to speak out loud. Sometimes afraid to give breath to our deepest fears and our darkest desires. It is in that place, where Jesus has often joined us.
Have you noticed how many of hymns speak of those times:
I want Jesus to walk with me – 521
I need thee every hour -397
Lord, I want to be a Christian 402
Precious Lord, take my hand 474
Jesus Savior, Pilot Me – 509
Stand By Me – 512
In the Garden – he walks with me and talks with me 314
Nobody knows the troubles I see – 520
And the list could go on and on.
But today, the tables are turned metaphorically. Yes, Jesus still walks with us tonight as well. But liturgically, we remember that there was a time in Jesus’ life in which he experienced that same sense of abandonment, desperation, and fear that we know. As he went to garden – not even his closest friends could support him – not only his closest friends keep the vigil with him. Have you been there?
It was not long after feeling abandoned that he was betrayed, denied, and finds himself before the religious authorities and Roman governmental structure. We walk this journey with him. As we hear the harsh words of the crowds, we know that they were said to and about our Jesus. As we imagine the crowds gathering and pressing in and towards his execution, we know that it was Jesus’ life they wanted to take. As we feel the torment and torture that he suffered, we feel the suffering of those horrific actions.
Walking with Jesus through Holy Week and through the pain and suffering of these days asks a lot of each of us. And yet, in walking with Jesus, we see love. We see God IN LOVE. We have often imagined that Jesus felt abandoned by God in this time. I think this misrepresents what I have come to know about God. God did not turn away an abandon Jesus when he was executed by the state. I believe that God looked with love at Jesus and anguish at the suffering of God’s Son. That was the sacrificial love of which we speak. That God did not merely abandon Jesus but stayed with him when the world crucified him. In watching the suffering and the pain, God joined with Jesus. God’s love is greater than the convenient love that we sometimes offer each other – which is I will help when I can – I will be present when I am not doing something else.
In the same way that we do not turn away when we see someone suffering. In the same way that we do not pretend we don’t hear when injustice is going on around us. God’s astonishing love is even with us in our darkest nights.
Why is this night different from all other nights? On all other nights, God’s love is shared. On this night, we remember God’s astonishing love to even suffer with us.
This is the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, thanks be to God, Amen.
Mark 14:26-42
Peter’s Denial Foretold
26 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’
28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.” 30 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of them said the same.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. 34 And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” 35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 He said, “Abba,[a] Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” 37 He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? 38 Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial;[b] the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. 41 He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”