Agony in the Garden

Jesus crosses his Rubicon

FLASHBACK.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil.

What was the temptation all about? Commentators say that the devil was convincing Jesus to carry it out his task of Savior through means different from the way of the cross. Satan wanted him to save the world the easy way--by meeting men's physical needs (turn stone into bread), through power and glory ( Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, "I shall give to you all this power and their glory.), and through amazing feats (If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you.)

But Jesus would not be swayed.

St. Luke ends his narrative by saying: When the Devil had exhausted every way of tempting Jesus, he left him until an opportune time.

FAST FORWARD.

The Garden of Gethsemane. Now is the opportune time. For the last time the Devil is trying to dissuade Jesus from going the way of the cross. We do not have any idea about the spiritual contest that is going on. But it must be extreme for Jesus is sweating blood.

Some lessons here.

We Christians are not masochists. But we do know that there is value in suffering. United with the passion of Christ, it has redeeming and healing value. When I visited a old relative in the hospital, I asked her to offer her sufferings for me.

Jesus was a man like us in all things, but sin. He knew what it was to be tempted. But He struggled. I too am tempted. But I do not struggle. Shame on me!