Hi, this is Joni Eareckson Tada on this special week before Easter.
Like you, I’m spending this week thinking a great deal about all that Jesus suffered, all that he endured on our behalf. In fact, I just read a heartwarming devotional in Tabletalk magazine about that portion of Scripture in John 18.You know the scene. It’s the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus fell to his knees and prayed, earnestly asking that his Father might spare him the cup of wrath that awaited him at the cross. Having prayed, Jesus then rose to his feet. And moments later, the soldiers came to arrest him. When they did, Peter went on the attack. But in John 18, the 11th verse – get this, “Jesus commanded Peter, ‘Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?’”
Now, friend, stop for a moment and think about that, because when Jesus said that he was declaring that he would no longer pray that the cup of God’s wrath might pass from him. Here we see Jesus embracing the cross. And he did so with royal resolve. No hiding in the shadows, not at all. You can see that from the first moment when he chose to even enter the Garden of Gethsemane – he had to know it was a place well known to Judas. But our Lord would not be captured like a hunted animal. Knowing Judas would intercept him in that Garden, Jesus gave himself up without restraint. You can see that same royal resolve when Jesus openly declared his identity to the soldiers – some may have expected Jesus to hide behind his disciples and have to be forcibly exposed, but not our Savior! When Jesus stepped forward to accept Judas’ kiss of betrayal, he powerfully and majestically declared, “I am,” and with these words, the soldiers fell back in awe and intimidation.
Jesus knew he would have to stand alone in the hour of his death, and he faced it with majestic dignity. Maybe the soldiers thought they would have to drag away some cowering, reluctant captive under the cloak of darkness, but instead they faced the King of Kings who willfully took control of the situation. I thought about this recently when I was reading from a new paraphrase of the Bible; it said that Jesus was “killed.” But you know, I instinctively recoiled at that word. I don’t know what the translators were thinking, but Jesus definitely was not killed. The Bible says he willingly laid down his life. He was in control even of his own death.
And on this Easter week as we ponder these things, I want you to remember that your Savior went to the cross with a complete devotion to obey his Father. That is such a powerful example for us as we daily take up our cross. First Peter 2:21 says, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” So we need to face our trials with royal resolve; we need to take up our cross with that kind of majestic divine dignity, the grace that he provides to do so, with a smile. Oh, and speaking of facing things with a smile, don’t forget to visit me today at joniandfriendsradio.org and would you please ask for your free copy of this wonderful hard-cover little book that Max Lucado wrote called “Resurrection Morning?” It’s so beautiful, with colorful illustrations all throughout the story… a great Easter gift to give someone who might have questions about the resurrection of Jesus. Again, that’s joniandfriendsradio.org. Finally, remember to take up your cross this week with a devotion to obey God. It’s the example that Jesus left us.
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