"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."
- Matthew 26:36-39
If you believe the Bible story (and I do) - you have to wonder, why is Jesus, the son of God, "Overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death"?
Yes, it is Thursday and he knows the pain of Good Friday is coming. But he also knows that the Easter miracle is just around the corner. He knows that victory is at hand and he knows he has what it takes to get there.
So why all the sorrow?
In my thinking about my own personal "Black Tuesday" the thought occurred to me - it's the pain. Not just the physical pain he was facing but the mental and emotional pain. The pain of the hatred he would see in people's eyes, the pain of lies and betrayals that would mark the next 24 or so hours.
Maybe his heart was breaking not because he was fearful of the ultimate outcome but because of the pain of the situation, the pain of the process.
No compassionate person goes to war with a smile - even if they know they are going to be victorious.
So maybe that is it. I am hopeful and optimistic and prayerful about Annie's situation. But that doesn't mean there isn't pain too.
A weeping person is not necessarily a defeated person. They may be weeping because they are preparing for battle.
Keep us in your prayers.
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