April 15, 2025

Introduction

As we approach the time we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Savior, Christ Jesus, I remind you that it occurred in the month of Nisan. The timing of the revelation regarding Nisan, and the in-depth meaningful studies we have done in recent GH15s, have led us up to this pivotal week - no doubt orchestrated by Holy Spirit. For the remainder of this week, we will gratefully remember the sacrifice Christ made for us. The title of today’s post is:

Passion Week: Human, As Well As Divine

As Jesus approached the day of His crucifixion, the human part of Him experienced a deep emotional struggle. We sometimes forget Jesus was truly human as well as divine, with very real human emotions. He experienced the pain of grief, sorrow, and rejection; He knew the pleasure of joy, peace, hope, and love. As our representative and substitute, Christ functioned as a true human - minus the sin nature. He did not rely on His deity to face life’s situations. Jesus, therefore, did not simply switch into His God nature in order to endure the ordeal of the Cross and the events leading up to it. 

He began making His final journey to Jerusalem - and the Cross - in Luke 9:51: “When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem.” The emotional strain of knowing what was coming became very challenging to Christ. In Luke 12:50, He said, “I have a baptism to undergo. How distressed I am till it is accomplished.” This was still several weeks before the Cross, yet the emotional pressure was already wearing on Him. The word “distressed” here is also the Greek word for a prisoner, or someone held fast by something they cannot escape from; it also means to be in mental anguish. 

Luke, whose gospel emphasizes Christ’s humanness more than the other three, reminds us 10 more times - some of them through direct quotes from Christ Himself - that He was focused on getting to Jerusalem. It was never far from His thinking. His emotions must have been raw as He thought of the Old Testament prophecies describing His coming ordeal. And when He rounded the last curve, crested the last hill, and saw Jerusalem, He began weeping uncontrollably (Luke 19:41). Wuest’s literal translation of the Greek New Testament says “And as He came near, having caught sight of the city, He burst into tears, weeping audibly over it...”

Christ’s request to the Father while agonizing in Gethsemane - “Let this cup pass from Me” - was genuine. Describing this time in the garden, the Greek text literally says that Christ, in His anguish, fell repeatedly to the ground. The words used to describe His trauma mean:

• to be in a state of great anxiety, even disoriented;

• exceedingly sorrowful;

• overwhelmed with sadness, encompassed by grief.

Wuest’s translation says Christ was “thoroughly alarmed and distressed...even to the point of death.” This is what caused His capillaries to burst, a condition known as hematidrosis, causing drops of blood to literally drip from His pores onto the ground. I believe our redemption actually began there in the garden when the first drops of blood began to fall. It was then that He bore our griefs and sorrows (Isaiah 53:4).

His disciples observed His struggle, even as they wrestled to remain awake with Him in prayer. They had no idea they were about to enter a whirlwind of catastrophic events, observing the arrest, trial, beating, abuse, and crucifixion of the One they had set their hopes on. Their next few hours would be tormenting and traumatic. Then they watched as Jesus was tortured, killed, and laid in a tomb. No doubt they were very confused, their minds spinning from the events of the last two days, trying to make some sense of it all. They likely rehearsed the things He had said to them over and over again. 

The disciples definitely did not realize Jesus was going to die. It is also clear that they did not believe He would be resurrected on the third day, though He had told them this would occur. They didn’t know what to think. Their troubled souls had no idea what God was doing.

There are times in our lives when we find ourselves in a similar place. Life seems good, or at least normal. We trust the Lord and enjoy our walk with Him, our time with family and friends. Then, difficult changes occur.

During covid, for example, we lived through an entire year in which many unpleasant changes came upon us suddenly. We were forced into isolation for a season. Then, other transitions began. Some lost loved ones, others experienced job losses or forced career changes. Some had to start new businesses or even move to other locales to find work. The way we educate our children was altered, and entire families had to adjust. The church had to find new ways to worship, minister to one another, and evangelize. 

When circumstances change at this level, we must run TO God, not FROM Him. He knows what is happening, what is on the horizon. He is our peace, our hope, and He has promised us a victorious future. On the days between Gethsemane and the Resurrection, the earth reeled from satan’s activities against Christ. But a wonderful surprise was coming! Victory was on the horizon, though no one knew this yet. God was working behind the scenes, vanquishing the enemy and sprinkling the Mercy Seat with Christ’s blood. His plan was taking shape and would soon be revealed.

Don’t be anxious, church. Don’t let fear, confusion, or anger, rooted in the chaos of our times, overtake you. Spend time with your Father. Quiet your soul, and wait upon Him. He will speak, comfort you, and prepare you for what He has planned. David, the Psalmist, when in exile from his homeland and living in a dark cave, said, “I certainly believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord,” (Psalm 27:13-14 NASB).

Pray with me:

Lord, we will seek You, and we will find You. You have made promises to us, and You will do what You have said. Hope has risen in us, giving way to faith. We are listening for Your instructions. You have planned for the success of the church. You will make us victorious–like You! You have planned for harvest and have done so well. A great outpouring of Your glory has begun with signs and wonders poured out. Your Kingdom power will hit this earth like a powerful tsunami, and You want us ready. We WILL be ready!

Let Your suddenlies manifest, Lord! Creative miracles, be! Radical salvations, occur! Sudden resources, flood in! Let Your power and glory be seen in and through us, Lord! Break all the pain, fear, and anxiety of the last season off of Your people. Let all its effects be washed away by the power of Your resurrection and the magnificence of Your presence. We exalt Your holy name, Jesus. Amen.

Our decree:

We declare that our faith in God’s plan is strong! Revival has begun!

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