Jump Start # 3810
Luke 22:45 “When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow.”
I am a fan of the series Chosen. I’ve seen every season. And, lest someone feels compelled to remind me, yes there are some liberties taken, some side stories that are made up and some conversations that we don’t know happened. And, for those who can’t handle those things, they won’t like the series. But most that have stayed with the series have found themselves connecting to the different characters and their different personalities.
There was a serious turning of things that took place in season five. Up to this point, Jesus is smiling often. He and the apostles have great exchanges. But, now, that changes. There is a serious tone and concern in the voices. And, there is a heavy sadness as the looming cross is getting near.
Be careful not to have replacement theology and start thinking the actor on the Chosen is Jesus and those supporting actors are what the apostles looked like and acted like. On the screen they are pretending.
Our verse today takes us to the garden scene. Jesus took the inner three, Peter, James and John and went deeper into the olive garden. He told those three to be alert and watch as He went deeper into the garden to pray. There was a heaviness and intensity in the Lord’s prayer. He asked the Father if the cup could pass, meaning, is there another way. His sweat became like blood. As the Lord returned, the trio of Peter, James and John were sleeping. This happened more than once. Our passage adds that they were sleeping from sorrow.
We don’t do well with sorrow. Put smiling faces around us, laughter, fun and we are in a great place. But, tears are hard to handle. I’ve seen many tears. The funeral ends, standing beside the casket, the audience passes by one last time. Then when the room is cleared, the immediate family gathers for one final moment around the body of their loved one. That’s when the tears really flow. I’ve had tears in my eyes as well.
It’s hard to put a finger on the reason why Jesus was so sorrowful. And, it may not be just one simple answer. Here’s what I came up with:
First, the big picture of the magnitude of being the sacrifice for the world for all time. That’s the role Jesus was fulfilling. There was a lot that came with that.
Second, there was the realization of what torture He was about to endure. Had His death been quick and instantaneous, it would still be sad. But Jesus had hours and hours to endure angry insults, beatings, abuse and then torture of the cross. His death was slow. His death was painful. His death was watched by those who hated Him. Knowing this, would create great sorrow.
Third, I also think that Jesus was going to miss the relationships He had with the apostles. For three years they have been together. So many conversations. So many wonderful moments. I see their relationship as more than Lord and apostles, but as friends. And, Jesus knew, it wouldn’t be very much longer and He would leave them. It’s hard knowing friends are going to part.
But as I think about the sorrow of Jesus, what really cuts deeply is knowing that I caused that sorrow. It’s because of my sins and my selfish choices that He went to the cross. Parents and especially grandparents love making our little ones happy. Smiles. Giggles. Laughter. And, when one is crying, we do all that we can to make things better. But, when one is crying because of us, it hurts. And, to think Jesus was pouring His heart out in the garden because of me.
Isaiah described Jesus as a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” We like a happy Jesus. We like a smiling Jesus. But, a Jesus with tears streaming down His cheeks because we disappointed Him and we were the cause of the cross, that sure takes the sweetness out of sin and makes us draw closer to the Lord.
My Jesus, I love Thee…
Roger