April 25

Facing Gethsemane

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.  ––1 Corinthians 2:14

The night before the crucifixion in the Garden of Gethsemane, the die was cast. Jesus wrestled with his fate—the inevitability of approaching pain—and did what all of us have to do sooner or later if we are to enter the “next level” God has for us: He surrendered, and in so doing, attained victory. How strange life in Christ is: We must surrender all in order to gain all. That is why Paul says that those who do not have the Spirit consider the things of God to be foolishness.

What Satan saw in Gethsemane was a defeated Jesus who had given up hope. What God saw was a Son who had abandoned His own will to do the will of His Father. Satan was defeated in the quiet chill air that night and didn’t even realize it until the burial shroud was shed and Jesus walked out of the tomb. 

In the heat of life’s busyness and pressures, Satan beats his drums of temptation, discouragement, and confusion. Sometimes the drums tap quietly, while other times they pound in your ears and drown out the rest of the world. In those times—when discouragement feels like a lead weight around your neck—the Spirit will speak to you if you’ve tuned your ear.

The road to the Cross passes through Gethsemane. What you will often find is that the most difficult battles happen in quiet places. Like Jesus alone that night as the disciples slept, our Gethsemane battles are the ones few others ever see. A quiet battle rages, and oftentimes, you will be the only one who even knows what is happening. You know it’s the devil and he knows that you know what he’s up to.

Man of God, what Gethsemane battle are you facing today? Know that as you resist the liar, he will flee. As you face your dark night of the soul, seemingly alone, know that you are not. Know that Jesus won’t abandon you; He sees you fight, and He will help you win.

Gethsemane is the battle ground, the cross is the culmination, and resurrection is your reward.

Lord, I don’t want to face my Gethsemane battles by myself. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to help me endure the pain of this life so I can enjoy the rewards of the next one.