JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM: GANGSTERS IN GETHSEMANE

“And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.” ~ Matthew 26:47

Reference: 

Matthew 26:36-41; 47-56

Man fell in a garden and his redemption started in another garden – Gethsemane. The ‘enemy’ came into both gardens; Eden, as a serpent, and Gethsemane, with gangsters with clubs and swords. Jesus had retired to this garden to meditate about His approaching death and to pray. This is the final lap of His journey to Jerusalem, the journey to the cross. Everything the enemy threw at Him was to keep Him from reaching His destination – the cross, for man’s redemption.

The enemy often uses the cover of the night to do evil; he comes with such force that it can be crushing. Even Jesus wondered; “Why come at night; I was always with you in the temple, you could have arrested Me then?” Also, why come with so many people just for one man? This is a strategy for intimidation; it is satan’s stock-in-trade. Now, this garden is supposed to be a place of retire and rest for Jesus and His disciples, yet, the enemy violated it. Take note that there is no time and no place that the devil does not try us and tempt us. In fact, the times of rest and retire may be your most vulnerable time (David & Bathsheba).

How did Jesus maintain calmness in this most trying time, especially in contrast to the rattled disciples? Prayer! He had spent time praying because prayer makes trying times bearable and secures victory at last. His disciples on the other hand slept through the night; they could not handle the gangsters, so they resorted to their swords and eventually all ran away. Now, Jesus did not resist the mob; He did not use His power to destroy them but allowed them to lead Him away. Why? He saw the whole saga through different lenses; He saw everything as working towards the fulfillment of His purpose. It is this understanding that made Him refer to His betrayer (Judas) as ‘friend.’ He could almost have thanked him because He saw that his actions would lead Him to the cross – His final destination.

We often feel a need to retire to a garden – a garden of rest and retreat, but we get surprised that even when we are retreating and relaxing, satan still comes with back-to-back troubles. However, an intimate knowledge of God’s will and purpose for your life will help you to sail through difficult times; it will help you understand that God is in control and that He is working all things together for your good.  So, when you are in your garden to rest and relax, remember that it does not totally shield you from the devil’s attacks. Be on the alert and stay prayerful. You may even be at a point now where the devil has come with his ‘gangsters’ of trouble; know that as long as you stay with God, all the enemy does will only serve to accelerate your journey to your Jerusalem. Be at peace, these troubling ‘gangsters’ don’t determine your destiny, God does. So, let none of these things move you – underneath you are God’s everlasting arms.

PHOTO QUOTE:

ADDITIONAL TEXTS: 

II Samuel 11:1-5, Isaiah 59:19&20, Acts 20:22-24 & I Peter 5:8

PRAYERS:

+ Lord, help me to be vigilant at all times, so that the devil will not take me unawares.

+ Father, restore fervency in my prayer life; set my prayer altar on fire again.

+ No matter what troubles are around me now, I declare that they will all turn for my good.