BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD (Part IV)
In our portrait of the person and work of Jesus Christ, we now highlight the
concluding events of Holy Week, in
which The Passion of Jesus Christ was
dramatically unveiled via His betrayal, isolation, rejection, judgment,
humiliation, derision, chastisement, satanic attacks and death by
crucifixion. Today, we celebrate Maundy
Thursday [pronounced mawn-dee], which is also known as Covenant Thursday or Holy Thursday.
The term, “Maundy,”
is derived from a middle English word (maunde) and a Latin word
(mandatum). As such, it focuses on the mandate of Jesus Christ for all disciples 1) to
commemorate His death and suffering by partaking of the sacramental elements of
bread and wine, and 2) to wash one another’s feet as an act of brotherhood and
humility.
Although many Christians do not regard Maundy Thursday to be as
significant as Good Friday or
Resurrection Sunday, it is my view
that the occurrences of this day were not only extraordinary, they were mission
critical to the growth, development and continuation of the faith.
Three foundational reasons undergird my personal
perspective on Maundy Thursday.
Firstly, Jesus shared one of
His most important Kingdom parables, The
Parable of the True Vine, also making the solemn promise to send The Holy Spirit (in His absence) to
teach, direct, empower, encourage and comfort believers. (John 15:1-11 –John
16:7-15) Secondly, Jesus
instituted The Lord’s Supper as
an ongoing commemoration of His atoning grace. Thirdly, Jesus completely prevailed over Satan in the
Garden of Gethsemane. (Matthew 26:36-46 – Mark 14:32-42 – Luke
22:39-46 – John 18:1)
Because Christ’s victory in the Garden of Gethsemane is
inextricably tied to Adam’s fall in the Garden of Eden, it is our primary focus
for today. Indeed, our human history of perennial struggle with Satan and
sin can be accurately summarized via the comparison of Two Adams and Two Gardens. The Apostle
Paul wrote, “the first man Adam became
a living being,” and “the last Adam became
a life-giving spirit.” (I Corinthians 15:45) The original Adam was created
in the image and likeness of God. Nevertheless, he had been endowed with free will, and he made a deliberate and
consequential choice to disobey the Creator’s commands. (Genesis, chapters 2
and 3)
The First Adam fell from grace (in the Garden of Eden), while The Second Adam was the very embodiment
of grace, clearly manifested in the Garden of Gethsemane. (John 1:14) He
alone had sufficient love and power to secure full redemption and reconciliation (AT-ONE-MENT)
with THE FATHER.
It is my contention that Christ’s victory over the power,
practice and penalty of sin did not occur exclusively at Calvary. Rather,
it transpired in an agonizing moment of ABSOLUTE
surrender at Gethsemane. Jesus Christ was completely isolated from
human support, that is, His trusted companions had fallen fast asleep.
Yet He won our victory, for all time and eternity. Prayerfully consider
the following passage:
Matthew 26:36-43 (NKJV)
38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to
death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O
My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I
will, but as You will.”
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to
Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing,
but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father,
if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your
will be done.”
43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
Luke, the disciple-physician, records the physical results
of Jesus Christ’s monumental spiritual-physical struggle. “And being
in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of
blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44) So great was His
spiritual, emotional and physical agony that Jesus experienced hematidrosis [also known as hematohidrosis]. In this
condition, multiple blood vessels surrounding the sweat glands constrict under
great pressure, then dilate to the point of rupture, mixing in with the sweat
that secretes from the skin.
Nevertheless, as Jesus Christ subdued His fear and flesh,
crying out, “not My will, but Thine be
done,” He won absolute victory over Satan and sin. And, He
prevailed in this matter long before metallic spikes would be nailed cruelly
into His hands and feet or a sharp sword would brutally pierce His side. Indeed,
it this existential moment of surrender
at Gethsemane that is the pivotal point of our vicarious victory. “I
have overcome the world,” declares Jesus! (John 16:33) The result is this
joyful testimony that is the spiritual heritage of every WINNER-BELIEVER: “Now
thanks be to GOD who always leads us to TRIUMPH IN CHRIST.” (II Corinthians
2:14) Amen? Amen!!!
Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow!
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