As we continue to journey through Holy Week (Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday), we pause to reflect on the garden of Gethsemane. It is at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Jesus told the disciples, “sit here while I go over there and pray” (Matthew 26:36). He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and the Scripture says that Jesus began to be sorrowful and troubled. As He went a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).
The weight of the sin of the world Jesus will bear was beginning to take a toll on His Spirit. I believe the spiritual warfare was even felt by the disciples as they could not stay awake. There is something significant about gardens. It was at the garden of Eden that the first Adam’s fall occurred. It is at the Garden of Gethsemane that Jesus, the second Adam, enters to do battle for the souls of men and women through all generations. It was this second garden Jesus begins the preparation to bring sinful man back in relationship with a Holy God. From the tree in the middle of Eden to the tree in the middle of Good Friday, we see Jesus paying the price for our sin. He was not only nailed to the cross but our sins were nailed to Him. Jesus was all about doing the will of the Father. “Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book” Hebrews 10:7. This is the example we are to follow. I encourage you to Pray and seek the Will of God as you seek the Lord with all your heart this week. We want to encourage you to come and be a part of an Upper Room Experience held in the Worship Center on Thursday for 30 minutes. There are three times you can choose from, 5:30pm, 6:00pm, or 6:30pm. Bring your friends and family to go through this together. Then on Easter Sunday at 9:15am and 10:45am, we will gather to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. It is going to be a powerful Sunday. If you attend the first service, plan to eat breakfast in the Family Life Center before you leave. If you attend the second service, come early and eat breakfast before worship. The breakfast will begin at 10:00am and go until 11:00am. Our children will be in Powerplant for both hours. Instead of adding another service this year, we decided to create an overflow. Would you be willing to move into the overflow section located in Room 104 if we have limited seating? After the service begins, be mindful and willing to give up your seat for someone new that morning. I am confident that it is going to be a great day! Pray with me that God will speak to so many leading up to this Resurrection Sunday. I am looking forward to being with all of you. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
Rev. Mike McClurgSenior Pastor, Findlay First Church of the Nazarene Archives
March 2020
Categories |