The Story of Easter – Day #4
(Devotional by Pastor Ben)

“Father, the hour has come.” Can’t you just imagine Jesus getting choked up at that moment? Poised between life and death, His only desire is that the world would know His Father’s tremendous love for them.

“After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”    (John 17:1-5)

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
(John 17:24-26)

“When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”
(Matthew 26:30)

Read Psalm 136, known as the Great Hallel (song of praise), which is traditionally sung at the close of the Passover celebration.

Jesus’ last moments before His arrest are spent in a familiar and comforting place: in the arms of His Father. Going away alone to pray was His established pattern throughout His life, but never before have we gotten to listen in as He pours out His private prayers.

“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?’ He asked Peter. ‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”        (Matthew 26:36-42)

“An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”    (Luke 22:43-44)

“When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
(Matthew 26:43-46)

Read the words of Psalm 23 that have been breathed as a desperate prayer by so many who are going through their darkest hours.