Via Crucis :: Immersion

First Station:  Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-41)

^36-38 Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, "Stay here while I go over there and pray." Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, "This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me."

 ³⁹ Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, "My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?"

 ^40-41 When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."

 ⁴² He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, "My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I'm ready. Do it your way."

 ^43-44 When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn't keep their eyes open. This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time.

Sorrow that is crushing the life out of me. I have been there as well ... moved through the spaces of darkness that Jesus encountered in the garden on that fateful night. The amazing thing is that Jesus was there ahead of me, Jesus walked through that darkness and place of deep sorrow ahead of me. Jesus is there to guide me out of that darkness. Jesus not only walks ahead of me, but he lifts and carries me through the deepest of places. He willingly gave up himself for me. ME!


May I be so willing to give up myself for You, Lord Jesus.


Father God, give me the willing spirit to go into the darkest of places if that is where you need me. Equip me to be a guide to those who struggle still in the deepest of sorrows. Help me carry those too weak to walk the path on their own.