Go to Dark Gethsemane

Let go in faith and journey into the unknown. Easily said, much harder to do! The author of the Book of Hebrews tells us, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the assurance of things unseen.” In other words, faith is a means of letting go of all the “control issues” in our lives; those predetermined plans that we often interject or sneak into our prayers as we try to influence God to “just let things turn out my way!”

Throughout Scripture we witness God’s people do great things because of their willingness to step outside of themselves in faith. Abraham left behind all he knew and led his people into a new land, becoming the Father of all Nations. Moses answered God’s call and returned to Egypt to face Pharaoh, in order to free the Children of Israel from the bondage of sin and slavery. God’s prophets were driven (sometimes kicking and screaming) by faith to hold God’s people accountable when they strayed away from Yhweh. Countless Christians in the early church (as well as today) experienced intense persecution by governments and authorities because of their faithfulness to Christ. And finally, Jesus faithfully accepted his fate in the Garden of Gethsemane even though he prayed to the Father, “If it be your will please remove this cup from my lips, but thou will be done.”

As we prepare to embark on this journey with Christ and disciples through Holy Week, we find ourselves on a path that is most uncomfortable and often harsh. Like the disciples, it is easier to fall asleep, run and avoid the painful darkness of Holy Week. This is the time for Jesus’ passion and suffering; a faithful suffering that buys our freedom from the bondage of sin and death. All too often we go to sleep on Palm Sunday and awake on Easter morning. We miss the whole journey! In many ways we are no better than the faithless disciples who abandoned Christ in his most desperate hour. Faith is not comfortable. Faith is not easy. Faith is not an assurance that we will always get our way in life (thank goodness!). Faith requires us to stand, walk and trudge forward, even though life sometimes hurts and becomes very dark and grim. Faith is the grains of sand used to polish our armor of light (as Paul describes in his Letter to the Ephesians) so that our spirits burn brighter and more radiant despite the darkness of our age. Faith simply requires that we believe; believe in Christ Jesus’ unconditional love and the wholesome desire to do the next right thing no matter the cost.

During this most holy week of Christendom, as we prepare to undertake this difficult journey of faith with Jesus, one that will lead us right through the painful abandonment of the cross; it is my most fervent prayer that we find the courage to believe in God’s redeeming grace and love. Dear Father I believe! Help my unbelief!