#118. The hour!

What has been your darkest hour? Maybe it started with that phone call or that email or the chime of the doorbell. In today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark we read about ‘the hour’.

Mark 14:32-42 NIV

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” He said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from Him. “Abba, Father,” He said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” He said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn't you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Once more He went away and prayed the same thing. When He came back, He again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to Him. Returning the third time, He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” …

We know this is the start of many dark hours for the Lord. But when Jesus says at the end of this reading that ‘the hour has come’ He knew this was ‘the hour’ He had been anticipating for all of His life. 

All history hinges on this hour. And it is utterly terrifying. Jesus must decide: Will he protect His skin, and soul, or will He embrace His Father’s perfect and painful will?

His dying had begun long before this hour, but now in Gethsemane, He must face the death to self that comes before the death at Calvary. Never has a soul been in such anguish. Never has a human been so undeserving of divine wrath. Never has anyone else faced such horror, to be made sin on behalf of others — to put himself forward in our place. *1

Much love 

Tim

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*1 Desiring God - David Mathis 2018