The first Palm Sunday celebration of waving the branches in honor of Jesus Messiah was filled with cheers. Those cheers soon turned to jeers as people realized Jesus did not come to set up an earthly kingdom, but to usher in God’s new heart order.
The week passed quickly with lots of activities around the temple and ended after the Passover meal in the upper room. As it adjourned and Jesus made his way to the place of prayer, his followers weakened as they were asked to watch and pray. So Jesus prayed alone as he called out to his Abba Father.
What did Jesus say and pray as his heart was breaking?
John 12: “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”
In these few lines Jesus tells us his heart (soul: mind, will & emotion) was shaking with pain about the cross and the way between life and death.
Why was Jesus’ heart breaking? Some may mistakenly believe Jesus was afraid for his personal safety, persecution or pain – a normal human response. Jesus was man AND the Son of God. In the garden, His heartbreak came from the depths of His heart. He understood every promise of God was dependent upon His perfect sacrifice on behalf of us all. Christ cried out knowing He was soon to be separated from the Father, as the spotless lamb bore the sins of mankind. The harsh reality of Easter for Christ preceded our rescue from the snare of sin & death.
Jesus’ heart was breaking, but instead of praying for rescue,
He prayed from the depths of His love that the Father would be glorified.
During this Easter season, what breaks your heart? Are you asking him to save you from the suffering of this hour? Or, are you asking him to glorify HIS NAME and use you as a love example of the Easter Life ?
We can only live the Easter life when we pray like Jesus. It is lived daily as we live the resurrected life and give Jesus honor and glory.