The Passion of Christ

 Passion of Christ Part IV

Lord, lead us not into temptation, but deliver from evil. 

 Jesus is saying his soul is troubled. He was forseeing his suffering ahead before his trials infront of the High Priests and Roman authorities. John 12:27 (NJB): Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say: Father, save me from this hour? But it is for this very reason that I have come to this hour. He was so much troubled and in great agony. Later on he was preaching and teaching the apostles and disciples about the Kingdom of God. He was sure that his time is nearing for to be for his sacrifice of his life.

   Luke 22:39–46 (NJB): He then left to make his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, with the disciples following. 40 When he reached the place he said to them, ‘Pray not to be put to the test.’ 41 Then he withdrew from them, about a stone’s throw away, and knelt down and prayed. 42 ‘Father,’ he said, ‘if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, let your will be done, not mine.’ 43 Then an angel appeared to him, coming from heaven to give him strength. 44 In his anguish he prayed even more earnestly, and his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. 45 When he rose from prayer he went to the disciples and found them sleeping for sheer grief. 46 And he said to them, ‘Why are you asleep? Get up and pray not to be put to the test.’ Jesus went to pray on the Mount of Olives. From here, Jesus can see the Temple of the Lord. He left the apostles to pray alone because he preferred silence and being alone with the Father in Heaven. He told them to pray not to be put to the test. Jesus bowed on the ground and begged Father, 'If you are willing, take this cup away from me'. Jesus understood that suffering and death would be extremely difficult for him, but he knew the Father's will and responded, "Let your will be done, not mine." Jesus was in immense suffering and couldn't tolerate it because he knew what would happen to him a few days later.He prayed hard to the Father, and his sweat dripped to the ground like droplets of blood. God sent him an angel who appeared to him and gave him power. Lord, I believe my prayers are insufficient to rescue my soul. Lord, how can we participate in the mystery of salvation? Our souls are willing, but our bodies are weak, so we sleep while praying. Have pity on us. After a while, he rose from his prayer and addressed the disciples, telling them not to sleep or Satan would enter and test them. In this Lent season, let us ask our Lord to teach us how to pray. What a lovely and powerful prayer Jesus has taught us to pray: Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,  as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and glory, forever and ever. Amen!

The Passion of Christ

 

Passion of Christ Part III

Lord, Your mercy and grace is our hope, we trust in You! 

  We all will be persecuted, because we are living in Christ Jesus and we follow his narrow path and he is the way and truth. David also proclaims the persecutions of Jesus Christ. Jesus knew everything and what he has to do for the salvation of His creation, because he was the Son of God. ‘My strength is trickling away, my bones are all disjointed, and my heart has turned to wax, melting inside me. My mouth is dry as earthenware; my tongue sticks to my jaw. You lay me down in the dust of the death. A pack of dogs surrounds me; a gang of villains is closing in on me as if to hack off my hands and my feet. I can count every one of my bones, while they look on and gloat; they divide my garments among them and cast lots for clothing. Ps. 22: 14-18. As David had prophesied, Jesus was in severe anguish. He says Jesus' bones will be separated, his heart will melt like wax, and he will be fervently thirsty for souls. He would be assaulted like wolves would a prey, and he could count his bones because his body had been tainted by Roman troops' brutality. He could bear the troops' scourging and tormenting, but the most terrible part was being ignored by his own people, who mocked him, spitting on him, laughing at him, and cursing at him in harsh terms. Through this great sacrifice, he bore all of our faults and weaknesses as humans. Lord, we are sinners have mercy on us. Lord, Your mercy and grace is our hope, we trust in You!