The Sufferings of His Broken Heart
by Max Lucado
Go with me for a moment to witness what was perhaps the foggiest night in history. The scene is very simple; you’ll recognize it quickly. A grove of twisted olive trees. Ground cluttered with large rocks. A low stone fence. A dark, dark night.
Now, look into the picture. Look closely through the shadowy foliage. See that person? See that solitary figure? What’s he doing? Flat on the ground. Face stained with dirt and tears. Fists pounding the hard earth. Eyes wide with a stupor of fear. Hair matted with salty sweat. Is that blood on his forehead?
That’s Jesus. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Maybe you’ve seen the classic portrait of Christ in the garden. Kneeling beside a big rock. Snow-white robe. Hands peacefully folded in prayer. A look of serenity on his face. Halo over his head. A spotlight from heaven illuminating his golden-brown hair.
Now, I’m no artist, but I can tell you one thing. The man who painted that picture didn’t use the gospel of Mark as a pattern. When Mark wrote about that painful night, he used phrases like these: “Horror and dismay came over him.” “My heart is ready to break with grief.” “He went a little forward and threw himself on the ground.”
Does this look like the picture of a saintly Jesus resting in the palm of God? Hardly. Mark used black paint to describe this scene. We see an agonizing, straining, and struggling Jesus. We see a “man of sorrows.” (Isaiah 53:3 NASB) We see a man struggling with fear, wrestling with commitments, and yearning for relief.
We see Jesus in the fog of a broken heart.
The writer of Hebrews would later pen, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death.” (Hebrews 5:7 NIV)
My, what a portrait! Jesus is in pain. Jesus is on the stage of fear. Jesus is cloaked, not in sainthood, but in humanity.
The next time the fog finds you, you might do well to remember Jesus in the garden. The next time you think that no one understands, reread the fourteenth chapter of Mark. The next time your self-pity convinces you that no one cares, pay a visit to Gethsemane. And the next time you wonder if God really perceives the pain that prevails on this dusty planet, listen to him pleading among the twisted trees.
The next time you are called to suffer, pay attention. It may be the closest you’ll ever get to God. Watch closely. It could very well be that the hand that extends itself to lead you out of the fog is a pierced one.
I just had to have a cup with you this morning……..and share the wonderful writings of Max Lucado with you, The Lord urged me to do so. Ya know last night PBS was playing episodes of the Red Skelton show. WOW! We used to watch his show all the time growing up in Windom, Minnesota. Have you ever heard Red reciting the Pledge of Allegiance? It is AWESOME!!! Red just flowed through life with his style of comedy. He would break up laughing on live TV…….he was such a natural. Watching the show last night gave Sharon and I “comic relief”. Good clean comedy, hard to find these days. The family has released some of Red’s shows and skits for purchase, you may want to look into that if you enjoyed his stuff. www.redskelton.com
I will close with the following story that Frank Haley is reporting on KKIM and at www.mykkim.com
Bad times can bring out the best in people.
Mounting layoffs and tumbling stock prices are creating economic anxiety and forcing many people to cut back on charity, but the nation’s woes also are inspiring people to make generous gestures to acquaintances, employees and even strangers.
Danny Cottrell, owner of the Medical Center Pharmacy in Brewton, Ala., and a health care store in Atmore, gave $16,000 to his 24 employees. Full-time workers each got $700 and part-timers got $300. Cottrell asked them to donate 15% to charity and spend the rest in local stores.
Cottrell wanted to show his appreciation to employees and help other businesses. When he gave out the cash, he says, “people at one store, they all cried, and at the other one, they just sat stunned. … It’s been a blast.”
Thanks Frank…….I will close with this PRAISE NOTE:
I PRAISE GOD, for the Godly men and women HE is sending my way to help me in running KKIM. GOD has sent me so many good folks to keep us informed of the issues that effect the Christian way of life.
God wants us to grow up……….like Christ in everything. Eph 4:15
Let us pray………..
Lord, Let us choose our mentor’s carefully, or we may find ourselves trying to become something YOU never intended us to be, Let us stay focused on YOU.
In the name of Jesus, AMEN!
In the Love of Christ, Dewey Sharon and family
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