Scriptural Foundation:
Luke 22:41-44 New King James Version (NKJV)
And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Hebrews 5:6-10 New King James Version (NKJV)
As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Reflection:
The two hardest things you will ever do in this life is starting and finishing. Jesus did both.
The start…
Jesus gave up His kingly garments(linen) and came into this world as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothing. Amid a decree from Herod to slaughter all the male children that according to prophecy would become the King of the Jews. Only to put down His earthly garb and don again in linen in the tomb.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. – Matthew 2:1-3
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. – Matthew 2:16
The process…
This past week…Holy week, I saturated myself in the Word of God. I combed through the gospels, comparing and contrasting, each account. In our foundational scriptures, we see Jesus the Man struggle with a choice that would reverberate throughout eternity. He chose to submit His will to the Father’s ultimate purpose. As before, prior to entering the garden, He continued to confess the victory of His resurrection long before it happened in the natural.
It always amazes me when I think the same crowd that said “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” (John 12:12-14), by the end of the week was demanding “Crucify Him”.
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. Matthew 27:20-26
Barabbas probably broke all the ten of God’s commandments, but the Father still sent His Son to take his place. And look what the people said about Jesus after Pilot washed his hands of the situation, “His Blood be on us and on our children.” Praise God! Thank you God for the Blood! It covers any and everything we have and will ever do. The confession by the Jewish people that put in motion God’s ultimate plan in place for redemption.
There is a lot of moments like that can be gleaned from studying the days prior to the crucifixion. I could literally talk for days about the revelations that have jumped out at me over the years. Instead, I will just focus on three statements that Jesus said during those days.
- “I am He”
Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth. ”Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. – John 18:4-6
After submitting to His will to the Father, Jesus confessed Who He was in God. Three words knocked over the men that came to arrest Him. The restraint He must have had to harness and control that power was remarkable. Not only did He heal the ear of the solider that Peter recklessly cut off, but I think those same words caused a man to be raised from the dead.
Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked. – Mark 14:51-52
- “Forgive them”
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. – Luke 23:34
After being abandoned by all of His followers and experiencing all of the injustices done to Him in the flesh, He remained centered in the Spirit. Despite all of these earthly violations He for gave. Praise God! Thank you God for the Blood! It covers any and everything that has been or will ever be done to us.
- “It is finished”
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. – John 19:30
Jesus confessed His resurrection from the other side of the tomb! Echoing the faith of a man – Abraham had when he said that he would return with Isaac. The power in those words were so impactful that there was a preview of the end of times.
Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. – Matthew 27:51-53
The finish…
And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. – Revelations 19:14
Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father ruling and reigning forever according to the order of Melchizedek. He is just as excited as we are waiting for that trumpet to sound signaling His return. The Author and Finisher of our faith. Till then we pray and apply the Word of God to the harvest fields that the Lord has entrusted to us.
Every confession you make in line with the Word of God over your life is an act of war in the spiritual realm. Each conscious decision to ignore what you are seeing or feeling that is contrary to what the Lord has spoken to your heart, is an offensive stance. The devil wants, we as Believers to think we are playing on defense. The day that Jesus rose from the grave was the day that the children of God stopped playing defense and started playing offense.
Renew your mind daily to the truth that the battle has already been won. Wherever you are on your sanctification walk (your process), praise God that you have started and continue to pray that you will finish up strong!
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. – Philippians 1:4-6 (NIV)
Seeking Revelation:
Grab your notebook:
- What things have the Lord told you to do that you are not actively pursuing now? Why?
- Course correct (aka repent) and start today taking steps back to that place and pick up what you have allowed the enemy to let go of through deception.
Praise the Lord! Remember Beloveds, praise always precedes victory.