Will you linger with Jesus?

Mark 14:43-52

⁴³ Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

⁴⁴ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” ⁴⁵ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. ⁴⁶ The men seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁴⁷ Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

⁴⁸ “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? ⁴⁹ Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” ⁵⁰ Then everyone deserted him and fled.

⁵¹ A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, ⁵² he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

Have you ever been in the situation where someone who was previously strong has become weak?

Imagine the effect on the disciples of the sudden change that came over Jesus in Gethsemane. Until that moment he had been in control: planning, directing, teaching, guiding. He had always been ready with a word or action. Now He is, as we say, falling apart, and warning them that they are going to collapse around Him.

There is a frightening conversation with the disciples. They will all, he says, abandon Him.  He has shepherded His flock, from the time he gathered them in Galilee until now; now He, the shepherd, will be struck down, and for a time at least the flock will run away to wherever they can hide.  Jesus must go alone into the ‘time of trouble’, the great dark moment that is coming upon Him.  Peter, impetuous as ever, opening his mouth first and thinking afterwards, will be turned inside out by the whole process.

Gethsemane invites us to consider, above all, what it meant for Jesus to be, in a unique sense, God’s Son.  The very moment of greatest intimacy — the desperate prayer to ‘Abba, Father’—is also the moment where, hearing the answer ‘No’, he is set on the course for the moment of God-forsakenness on the cross (15:34).

Gethsemane invites us to stop and ponder where we belong.  Are we, like the disciples, full of bluster one minute, sleep the next, and confused shame the next?  Are we ready to betray Jesus if it suits our other plans, or if he fails to live up to our expectations?  Or are we prepared to keep watch with him in the garden, sharing His anguished prayer?  We are not called to repeat His suffering; He went through that alone on behalf of us all.  We, the church are called to live in the middle of this great scene: surrounded by confusion, false loyalty, direct attack and traitor’s kisses, those who name the name of Christ must stay in the garden with him until the Father’s will is done.

Will you linger with Jesus?

Father, give us the faith and courage to stay true to You in all circumstances.

Written by Ps. Richard Botta