We tend to have a habit of talking about others in a negative fashion. Sometimes we claim we have to say what we think or we would be dishonest, when often it is best if we just hold our tongues. We talk about others often to make ourselves look or feel better. In talking about others we often judge others. In Hebrews 4:11-12 we will see why this is wrong, and why it is not our place to judge some sins as worse than other sins.
Verse 11 starts with the statement "Do not speak evil against one another, brothers." This is a simple command. Do not do this. Do not speak evil against one another. It does not say "Do not speak evil against one another, brothers behind someones back but it is okay to do it to their face." The truth is talking about someone behind their back or to their face are both wrong actions and they both should be avoided. It also important that we realize that we are all guilty of this action, of this sin.
Verse 11 continues "the one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother speaks evil against the law and judges the law." When we against someone else we are judging them. We would not be spreading this piece of juicy gossip or talking about or to this person in this way unless we felt like what they were doing was worse then what we were doing. In this way we make ourselves the judge! We are not the judge! And in fact we are no better than anyone else. The bible says in Romans 3:23 that "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." The means my sweet Mema who may appear to be the nicest person in the world is just as bad off and has fallen just as short of God's glory as a serial killer. We have no right to judge anyone.
Verse 12 makes a profound statement, that should stop us in our tracks and cause us to think: "But their is only one lawgiver and judge". I will go ahead and spoil the surprise, you and I are not that lawgiver. We are not that judge, and in fact when we act as if we are that lawgiver and that judge we are committing a sin, the same sin that Satan committed. We are saying to God that we are better than God and his law and his judgments are not good enough so we need to intervene and judge for God. How do you think the just judge of the universe feels about that?
Verse 12 the continues "he who is able to save and to destroy". Judgement's that you or I make are incapable of saving or destroying. The law that we make up for ourselves (that we then fail to keep, yet hold others accountable too) cannot save anyone even if they were kept. God is the one who can save and he is the one who can destroy. God is the one who shows grace and that one who will judge. Both of these things are important to remember. We cannot ever forget the justice of God. There will be people who God sends into hell for all eternity and the only difference between us and them is not that we are better but that we have been shown grace.
Which brings us to the concluding statement of this passage: "But who are you to judge your neighbor?" The answer is no one. The answer is: "I am not the judge, and I am no better than the person I am trying to judge. I am a lawbreaker who the judge has shown grace to." If we understand this Gospel, that Christ died for us while we were enemies with him, then we cease to judge others and instead we will share His Gospel with them and we will let God be the judge.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The Cause and Solution To All of Life's Problems: James 4:1-10
In this passage we will see the root issue that causes all of our fighting and strife. We will see the problem that resides in our heart that is constantly at work as we argue and fight with our fellow Christians. This problem, this sin, is at the heart of every single one of these problems, and it is a sin that we all struggle with. It is the sin of pride and selfishness.
Verse 1
James starts out this section of his letter by asking a question, and this question could be asked like this : "Why do you fight and argue?" Notice that the question is not "Why are you currently in this argument?" If it said that the reader might be able to explain away the fight as something that someone else caused, or give any number of excuses, but the more broad question allows James to get to the root cause. James then gives you the answer: "Is it not this, are you passions not at war within you?" Passions could be better translated desires. We all have desires that are waging a war inside of us. We have the evil and sinful desires of pride and selfishness, and we have the good desires to serve and worship God, and these two desires are always fighting inside of us. When the selfish fulfillment of our desires wins this war than is when we find ourselves fighting with other believers.
Verse 2
James gives an extreme example to prove his point. His statement is intended to shock, but it is true. We need to look no further than the Old Testament story of David and Bathsheba to see that people, even people who worship God, may kill to get something that they want that belongs to someone else. This is a common theme in murder mystery's. Notice he goes on though to explain that the same sin is what causes us to fight with each other. James wants us to understand that when we want something that belongs to someone else (covet, which is an act born in selfishness and pride) we are guilty of a big sin, a sin that can lead to murder .
James then tells us that if we need something, why do we not ask God for it? Why do we need to fight over things when God can and will supply everything that we need?
Verse 3
James does not want us to think that God gives us everything that we ask for willy-nilly though. God gives us what we need, not everything we desire. If we are asking for selfish reasons we cannot expect God to give us the things we are asking for. It is absolutely incredibly when we think about it that we would use our God given gift of prayer to ask selfishly for things we do not need, but we do!
Verse 4
Having this jealousy and being selfish is a serious matter, and it shows that we are friends with the world. James goes on to say that if you are friends with the world then you are God's enemies. This is not a place that we want to be at.
Verse 5
This verse balances out the last one. We are enemies of God's because of our selfish and prideful nature, but the God of the universe jealously desires and yearns for our souls. God wants us! For God it is not a sin for him to be jealous, he is not wanting something that he does not deserve he wanting something that is already His! But God wants us, and he yearns for us. How beautiful is this picture? We are enemies with God but rather than seeking our judgment and punishment he is yearning for us to come back to him!
Verse 6
Yes, God is a gracious God, a very gracious God, he gives us more grace than we could possibly ever comprehend. We will spend the whole of our Christian lives, and eternity, trying to understand the depths of the mercy, grace, and compassion of God. Then we read "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." If we want God's grace we need to be humble. If we think that we are good enough, smart enough, strong enough or spiritual enough to earn God's favor we better think again. Our admission of our need for God's help is humility, and thinking, or living, like we do not need God's help is pride.
verse 7
Our humble spirit will lead to our submission to God. If we admit that we need God then we will do what he says , rather than thinking we can do this on our own. Notice when we are humble and submissive to God we will find that we are capable of standing up to Satan, and that when we do, by God's grace he will run away with his tail between his legs.
Verse 8
Notice the series of events here, we humble ourselves before God in our spirit, which causes us to submit to him and do what he says, which causes us to draw near to him and then he draws near to us. Who wants to be near to the most powerful and gracious being in the universe? I can think of no better place to be!
The next sentence talks about washings and the original audience would of known he was referencing the ceremonial washings of the Old Testament. These washings were supposed to be symbolic of an inward change of heart and the living of a pure lifestyle. These washing were worthless apart from the actions of pure living, In the same way living a moral life is worthless apart form the humility which drives us to the cross of Jesus Christ. Living a moral life will gain us nothing apart from the salvation offered by the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We do not live a moral life so that we are saved, we live a moral life because Jesus saved us and empowers us to live that life.
Verse 9
This grace that we have been given is not a license sin. We should take our sin very seriously and when we fall into sin we should weep over it, not laugh over it. We far too often joke about our sin when we instead should be broken over it. Jesus died to free us from sin, yet we choose to live in it anyway. When we sin we should be driven to our knees in continual repentance.
Verse 10
We can choose to attempt to exalt ourselves, and find that we fail. We can live our lives proud of who we are and what we have done. We can laugh and joke and brag about the sins that we have committed. Or we can humble ourselves before God and be exalted by him. How are we exalted by him? He adopts us into his family. Why is this an exaltation? Because we become co-inheritors with Jesus of a perfect body, and a perfect eternity.
We fight and we argue. We have strife and problems. All of these problems are caused by our pride and selfishness. When we are prideful we are deceived. When we think we are good enough we are living a lie, and when we are humble it means that we see what we truly are, and we see who God truly is. The best way for us to stay humble is too constantly live with the Gospel on our minds. Understanding that our place as adopted sons of God comes only by the power of God.
Verse 1
James starts out this section of his letter by asking a question, and this question could be asked like this : "Why do you fight and argue?" Notice that the question is not "Why are you currently in this argument?" If it said that the reader might be able to explain away the fight as something that someone else caused, or give any number of excuses, but the more broad question allows James to get to the root cause. James then gives you the answer: "Is it not this, are you passions not at war within you?" Passions could be better translated desires. We all have desires that are waging a war inside of us. We have the evil and sinful desires of pride and selfishness, and we have the good desires to serve and worship God, and these two desires are always fighting inside of us. When the selfish fulfillment of our desires wins this war than is when we find ourselves fighting with other believers.
Verse 2
James gives an extreme example to prove his point. His statement is intended to shock, but it is true. We need to look no further than the Old Testament story of David and Bathsheba to see that people, even people who worship God, may kill to get something that they want that belongs to someone else. This is a common theme in murder mystery's. Notice he goes on though to explain that the same sin is what causes us to fight with each other. James wants us to understand that when we want something that belongs to someone else (covet, which is an act born in selfishness and pride) we are guilty of a big sin, a sin that can lead to murder .
James then tells us that if we need something, why do we not ask God for it? Why do we need to fight over things when God can and will supply everything that we need?
Verse 3
James does not want us to think that God gives us everything that we ask for willy-nilly though. God gives us what we need, not everything we desire. If we are asking for selfish reasons we cannot expect God to give us the things we are asking for. It is absolutely incredibly when we think about it that we would use our God given gift of prayer to ask selfishly for things we do not need, but we do!
Verse 4
Having this jealousy and being selfish is a serious matter, and it shows that we are friends with the world. James goes on to say that if you are friends with the world then you are God's enemies. This is not a place that we want to be at.
Verse 5
This verse balances out the last one. We are enemies of God's because of our selfish and prideful nature, but the God of the universe jealously desires and yearns for our souls. God wants us! For God it is not a sin for him to be jealous, he is not wanting something that he does not deserve he wanting something that is already His! But God wants us, and he yearns for us. How beautiful is this picture? We are enemies with God but rather than seeking our judgment and punishment he is yearning for us to come back to him!
Verse 6
Yes, God is a gracious God, a very gracious God, he gives us more grace than we could possibly ever comprehend. We will spend the whole of our Christian lives, and eternity, trying to understand the depths of the mercy, grace, and compassion of God. Then we read "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." If we want God's grace we need to be humble. If we think that we are good enough, smart enough, strong enough or spiritual enough to earn God's favor we better think again. Our admission of our need for God's help is humility, and thinking, or living, like we do not need God's help is pride.
verse 7
Our humble spirit will lead to our submission to God. If we admit that we need God then we will do what he says , rather than thinking we can do this on our own. Notice when we are humble and submissive to God we will find that we are capable of standing up to Satan, and that when we do, by God's grace he will run away with his tail between his legs.
Verse 8
Notice the series of events here, we humble ourselves before God in our spirit, which causes us to submit to him and do what he says, which causes us to draw near to him and then he draws near to us. Who wants to be near to the most powerful and gracious being in the universe? I can think of no better place to be!
The next sentence talks about washings and the original audience would of known he was referencing the ceremonial washings of the Old Testament. These washings were supposed to be symbolic of an inward change of heart and the living of a pure lifestyle. These washing were worthless apart from the actions of pure living, In the same way living a moral life is worthless apart form the humility which drives us to the cross of Jesus Christ. Living a moral life will gain us nothing apart from the salvation offered by the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We do not live a moral life so that we are saved, we live a moral life because Jesus saved us and empowers us to live that life.
Verse 9
This grace that we have been given is not a license sin. We should take our sin very seriously and when we fall into sin we should weep over it, not laugh over it. We far too often joke about our sin when we instead should be broken over it. Jesus died to free us from sin, yet we choose to live in it anyway. When we sin we should be driven to our knees in continual repentance.
Verse 10
We can choose to attempt to exalt ourselves, and find that we fail. We can live our lives proud of who we are and what we have done. We can laugh and joke and brag about the sins that we have committed. Or we can humble ourselves before God and be exalted by him. How are we exalted by him? He adopts us into his family. Why is this an exaltation? Because we become co-inheritors with Jesus of a perfect body, and a perfect eternity.
We fight and we argue. We have strife and problems. All of these problems are caused by our pride and selfishness. When we are prideful we are deceived. When we think we are good enough we are living a lie, and when we are humble it means that we see what we truly are, and we see who God truly is. The best way for us to stay humble is too constantly live with the Gospel on our minds. Understanding that our place as adopted sons of God comes only by the power of God.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
New Direction: Summary of Last Night
Today launches a new chapter in this blog. I hope you used this blog in the past to get into a pattern of daily Bible study. If you are in need of a daily devotional, send me a message and I will help you find one. This blog will now be used for a different purpose. Every Thursday a post will go up with a recap of the lesson from Wednesday night. That way you do not forget it. It is also something that you can read to keep up with us if you miss a week because you were sick or for other reasons.
Wisdom & Humility
Do you think you have life all figured out?
Do you think you are wise?
If you said yes to those two questions, I have news for you: You are not wise. I am not wise. I may display wisdom from time to time, and you may too, but neither of us are really wise. Those of you that said no to those questions are on the right track but then we must ask ourselves if we still act like we know it all by refusing help from others.
James 3:13-18 is a hard-hitting passage on this topic of wisdom-- what it is, what it isn’t, and what it brings to our lives.
Vs 13
James asks a similar question to the one I asked at the beginning of this post. Then he adds that if you are wise then you will show your works in humility. Being humble means recognizing when you need help, and making sure that you will not live your life for yourself but for others. It is the opposite of pride. You cannot be both wise and proud.
Vs 14
The point of this verse is that if you claim you are wise but have “bitter jealousy” and “selfish ambition,” you are not wise and are in fact lying if you say you are. These two things that James mentions are really big deals, but we are all guilty of them from time to time. Bitter jealousy is when you really want something that someone else has and you cease to be content with God and instead think that you would be happy if you only had that one thing more. Selfish ambition also stems from dissatisfaction, but it is when you selfishly pursue your own goals instead of the goals of God. You show this characteristic when you hurt others to get what you want.
Vs 15
These two things are not from God. This type of ambition is wrong, and jealousy is also wrong. James says that they are “earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” This list goes from bad to worst. It starts with "earthly," which has the idea that it is temporary and pertaining to the earth instead of heaven. The second one is “unspiritual” which has the idea that it hinders spiritual growth and in fact has the opposite effect of spiritual growth. The third part is that it is demonic. Satan and his demons were guilty of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition when Satan said that he could be like the God Most High and tried to overthrow Him. We essentially do the same thing when we exhibit this behavior because we are saying God and what He has given us is not enough.
Vs 16
Where these two things exist there will be “disorder and every vile practice.” You can probably think of situations in your life where problems were caused due to jealousy and this ambition. You can probably think of times you were jealous or ambitious in this way and you lost friends and caused all sort of pain in people's lives. In truth, these two things can cause a world of hurt in other peoples lives and can cause you to do all sorts of things that are wrong.
Vs 17
The wisdom that comes from God is wisdom that brings peace and is pure. This list of things is filled with good things that we want, but it takes humility and a focus on doing things for God’s glory rather than our own.
Vs 18
We will get what we sow. If we plant grass seed we can’t expect to get pumpkins. If we sow jealousy and such things then we will reap those same things. If we sow wisdom we will reap peace.
It is important that we find our satisfaction in God. Every time we go against God we are saying that He is not enough. In my best moments I find my complete satisfaction in God and in so doing I find joy. If we look for contentment in anything else we will just continue to look. We will always be one thing away from contentment and we will become bitterly jealous of others and our ambition will hurt so many people. We need to realize that God is all we ever need, and in him we can find satisfaction.
Wisdom & Humility
Do you think you have life all figured out?
Do you think you are wise?
If you said yes to those two questions, I have news for you: You are not wise. I am not wise. I may display wisdom from time to time, and you may too, but neither of us are really wise. Those of you that said no to those questions are on the right track but then we must ask ourselves if we still act like we know it all by refusing help from others.
James 3:13-18 is a hard-hitting passage on this topic of wisdom-- what it is, what it isn’t, and what it brings to our lives.
Vs 13
James asks a similar question to the one I asked at the beginning of this post. Then he adds that if you are wise then you will show your works in humility. Being humble means recognizing when you need help, and making sure that you will not live your life for yourself but for others. It is the opposite of pride. You cannot be both wise and proud.
Vs 14
The point of this verse is that if you claim you are wise but have “bitter jealousy” and “selfish ambition,” you are not wise and are in fact lying if you say you are. These two things that James mentions are really big deals, but we are all guilty of them from time to time. Bitter jealousy is when you really want something that someone else has and you cease to be content with God and instead think that you would be happy if you only had that one thing more. Selfish ambition also stems from dissatisfaction, but it is when you selfishly pursue your own goals instead of the goals of God. You show this characteristic when you hurt others to get what you want.
Vs 15
These two things are not from God. This type of ambition is wrong, and jealousy is also wrong. James says that they are “earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” This list goes from bad to worst. It starts with "earthly," which has the idea that it is temporary and pertaining to the earth instead of heaven. The second one is “unspiritual” which has the idea that it hinders spiritual growth and in fact has the opposite effect of spiritual growth. The third part is that it is demonic. Satan and his demons were guilty of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition when Satan said that he could be like the God Most High and tried to overthrow Him. We essentially do the same thing when we exhibit this behavior because we are saying God and what He has given us is not enough.
Vs 16
Where these two things exist there will be “disorder and every vile practice.” You can probably think of situations in your life where problems were caused due to jealousy and this ambition. You can probably think of times you were jealous or ambitious in this way and you lost friends and caused all sort of pain in people's lives. In truth, these two things can cause a world of hurt in other peoples lives and can cause you to do all sorts of things that are wrong.
Vs 17
The wisdom that comes from God is wisdom that brings peace and is pure. This list of things is filled with good things that we want, but it takes humility and a focus on doing things for God’s glory rather than our own.
Vs 18
We will get what we sow. If we plant grass seed we can’t expect to get pumpkins. If we sow jealousy and such things then we will reap those same things. If we sow wisdom we will reap peace.
It is important that we find our satisfaction in God. Every time we go against God we are saying that He is not enough. In my best moments I find my complete satisfaction in God and in so doing I find joy. If we look for contentment in anything else we will just continue to look. We will always be one thing away from contentment and we will become bitterly jealous of others and our ambition will hurt so many people. We need to realize that God is all we ever need, and in him we can find satisfaction.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Resurrection Sunday: April 8th: He is Risen! Matt 28:1-10
In the moment of what appeared to be God’s greatest defeat he achieved his greatest victory. Jesus died, but he did not stay dead. Oh he arose from the dead. We have reason to celebrate today, because our God is great. Jesus was killed, executed in fact, he gave up his own life but he did not stay dead.
Oh Jesus died, and he died so that we would not have to, but he came back to life. He was resurrected. This is the basis of our beliefs. If Jesus did not rise from the dead then we have nothing, if he did then he is God and his sacrifice is worth everything.
I ask you this morning is your life found in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus? Is this where your hope is found? Is this where your joy is found?
If not repent and turn to him, believe in Jesus and you too will enjoy eternal life with him.
As the song in Christ alone says:
“There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sins curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand”
Oh Jesus died, and he died so that we would not have to, but he came back to life. He was resurrected. This is the basis of our beliefs. If Jesus did not rise from the dead then we have nothing, if he did then he is God and his sacrifice is worth everything.
I ask you this morning is your life found in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus? Is this where your hope is found? Is this where your joy is found?
If not repent and turn to him, believe in Jesus and you too will enjoy eternal life with him.
As the song in Christ alone says:
“There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sins curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand”
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Saturday April 7th- Hope Seems Lost Luke 23:50-56
Jesus was dead. Killed like a criminal. Darkness seems to have one. Satan, sin and evil seem to be victorious.
Has God lost? Will man and God ever be reunited? Will every person be eternally separated from a holy God?
Satan has killed God’s son.
Imagine for a moment the disciples hiding in a room somewhere. Struggling with the fact that their friend and the person they believed in and trusted has died. Think of how they may have been questioning their faith saying to themselves “How could this happen”?
It is difficult for us to imagine how dark this day must of been for the disciples and other believers in Jesus. Their mentor, the person who they believed to have been the Christ is dead. They had pretty much not understood any of Jesus’ statements concerning his coming death and resurrection. So here they are concerned, worried, afraid. Understandable so. It seems as if God has lost.
But, Sunday is Coming.
Has God lost? Will man and God ever be reunited? Will every person be eternally separated from a holy God?
Satan has killed God’s son.
Imagine for a moment the disciples hiding in a room somewhere. Struggling with the fact that their friend and the person they believed in and trusted has died. Think of how they may have been questioning their faith saying to themselves “How could this happen”?
It is difficult for us to imagine how dark this day must of been for the disciples and other believers in Jesus. Their mentor, the person who they believed to have been the Christ is dead. They had pretty much not understood any of Jesus’ statements concerning his coming death and resurrection. So here they are concerned, worried, afraid. Understandable so. It seems as if God has lost.
But, Sunday is Coming.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Black Friday April 6th- Trial and Execution
Matt 26:57-27:26 (trial)
Jesus was tried, by multiple people. It was a joke of a trial honestly though. Accusations were made, and Jesus was ultimately killed for claiming to be the Christ (Messiah), which he was. So he was executed for telling the truth.
Furthermore the Roman authority (Pilate, the regional governor) found nothing wrong with him at all. Thought he was completely innocent, even tried to release him, but the crowds wanted Jesus to be crucified.
Matt 27:27-54 (execution)
And Jesus was crucified. He was beaten and whipped, mocked, even had his beard plucked. He was nailed to a piece of wood to die a slow death through blood loss and asphyxiation (suffocation). Jesus, the king of kings, the messiah was bleeding to death, and soon he died. But with his death some other things happened, that should give us hope on this dark day. Vs 51 says “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” The curtain separating God from the world was torn in two. Oh that promise of hope, the significance of this act should not go unnoticed. The temple was no longer needed, man, through the actions of Jesus Christ has access to God without a priest other than Jesus Christ!
Jesus was tried, by multiple people. It was a joke of a trial honestly though. Accusations were made, and Jesus was ultimately killed for claiming to be the Christ (Messiah), which he was. So he was executed for telling the truth.
Furthermore the Roman authority (Pilate, the regional governor) found nothing wrong with him at all. Thought he was completely innocent, even tried to release him, but the crowds wanted Jesus to be crucified.
Matt 27:27-54 (execution)
And Jesus was crucified. He was beaten and whipped, mocked, even had his beard plucked. He was nailed to a piece of wood to die a slow death through blood loss and asphyxiation (suffocation). Jesus, the king of kings, the messiah was bleeding to death, and soon he died. But with his death some other things happened, that should give us hope on this dark day. Vs 51 says “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” The curtain separating God from the world was torn in two. Oh that promise of hope, the significance of this act should not go unnoticed. The temple was no longer needed, man, through the actions of Jesus Christ has access to God without a priest other than Jesus Christ!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Thursday 5th- Last Supper and Garden of Gethsemane Matt 26:20-35 and 26:36-46
These two events are both important so we must deal with them both on this day.
The first event is the passover meal that Jesus has with his disciples, it has been famously called the Last Supper. In this mean Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper or Communion which connects him directly to the passover lamb. This is because Jesus will shortly become the passover lamb where in because of his sacrifice the wrath of God will passover those who believe in him.
The second event is the garden of Gethsemane. This should all momentarily take us back to another garden. The garden of eden where Adam does exactly what God told him not do. Here we see the exact opposite from Jesus who says in vs 39: “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus agonized over his coming death, but he did the will of the father. Jesus succeeded where Adam failed. We all fail like Adam, but Jesus succeed and lived the righteous life for our sakes and this is proven by his statement “not as I will, but as you will.”
The first event is the passover meal that Jesus has with his disciples, it has been famously called the Last Supper. In this mean Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper or Communion which connects him directly to the passover lamb. This is because Jesus will shortly become the passover lamb where in because of his sacrifice the wrath of God will passover those who believe in him.
The second event is the garden of Gethsemane. This should all momentarily take us back to another garden. The garden of eden where Adam does exactly what God told him not do. Here we see the exact opposite from Jesus who says in vs 39: “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus agonized over his coming death, but he did the will of the father. Jesus succeeded where Adam failed. We all fail like Adam, but Jesus succeed and lived the righteous life for our sakes and this is proven by his statement “not as I will, but as you will.”
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