This Sunday we saw that Jesus had a very hard road ahead of him. Jesus had a plan he was going to the cross. He had come to Jerusalem to die for his people. This is why he had come. He knew what the plan was and that he must be obedient to that plan. Yet he knew that it would be incredibly hard. Jesus was not surprised by what lay ahead of him.
In Mark chapter 14 we see Jesus going with his disciples to a garden called Gethsemane. He asked his disciples to wait for him while went further and prayed. Jesus was so distressed that he fell to the ground in prayer. He asked that if there was another way that his father would grant it. He knew that all things are possible with God, as he himself is God. But ultimately, he said, ‘not my will but yours be done.’ This was an example of Jesus perfect obedience. That is why he can be our perfect substitute. We have all at done what is wrong and chosen our own way instead of God’s. that is why Jesus could die in our place because he himself is God who came to live a perfect life in our place. Yet he was still willing to die in our place to save all who put their faith in him. It is also the way he taught his disciples to pray, ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.’
We also saw Jesus being betrayed by one of his followers, Judas. This name has become synonymous with betrayal. A footballer who leave for a rival club is called ‘Judas.’ Judas betrayed Jesus into the hands of his enemies. Jesus knew this was ahead and still allowed himself to be arrested. He wanted to do what he needed to do and what was right, not just what was easy. He knew that this was the plan being fulfilled.
This was a lonely moment for Jesus. as he had predicted, all of his disciples would scatter, they ran away. There was even an unnamed follower who when they tried to grab who when they did so they could only grab his cloak and he ran away naked. Some think that this man is actually Mark writing about himself.
Jesus made the hardest of decisions to willingly go to the cross to save sinners. Because of what he did, what he chose to do we have life forever with him. Jesus also said that choosing to follow him would not be easy but worth it. He invites us to follow him, even those who have failed him before, they can come back to him again.