Garden, Cross, Table

Garden - John 18:1-11

As the darkness lengthened through the watches of the night, the wine and food seemed to settle in such a way that the natural desires of rest and sleep proved insurmountable. The embrace of the roots and earth proved too soft and supple a bed on this night. So while every fiber of will called him top prayer, to obey the call of Christ. His body and energy called him to slumber, and to slumber he gave in. So Simon Peter, who just hours earlier had been told he would betray Jesus, who had set his mind and will to proving Jesus wrong, to show that he had what it took, with the slow rhythms of his body betraying him dozes off and fails to do what he desired.

The alarm came too late, the soldiers had already gathered close enough that there was not place to to flee to. The torches among the trees threw ghastly shadows and revealed a greater number of soldiers than disciples. What Jesus had said about his denial, and his failure to stay awake only fueled a desperation to help Jesus at all costs. So when Malchus reaches out, Peter reacts with his best plan, as the sounds of metal unsheathed caught many off guard, it was not until the blood flowed down malchus’ neck did it reveal that Peter intended to deny the soldiers their prison by any means.

Looking upon Jesus face, Peter saw the tracks where his bloody tears streaked his face and beard, on his sword he saw the blood of man spilled, and

Call into prayer in the garden - obedience to Christ, prayer of confession (write down sin)

Cross Mark 15:31-39

with the last peal of the hammer hanging heavy across the valley, the multitudes that had gathered waited with bated breath to see. is it true, is he real, can he really do what he promised. will he pull the nails from, his body, will he summon strength that is absent from his body, can he perform a miracle, Can he come down from the cross and prove that he is of God. as the time passed and minutes grew to hours, many began to depart. Their blood lust sated, the crowd no longer could stomach the horror to which they had screamed for. He was just like the rest, a false prophet, a disillusioned rabbi, and empty promise. This Jesus could not do it, and thus he would die for his over promised diety. Many in the fever had fogotten this kind rabbi that healed the sick and poor, that gathered children and sinners to himself, the one who spoke worth into those whom society had given up on, and had challenged those who oppressed their people with the law of moses so that almost none might be found worthy.

As he stood their, his emotions were all together different, as the leader of these soldiers this was no where close to his first crucifixion, in fact he was so practiced that the horror and agony on the faces of his subject seemed to no longer affect him. In fact each body was just another opportunity, garments to sell, a family who might pay him to go easier on those who could afford it. Yet as he stood, waiting for this capacity crowd whose blood lust seemed abated but possibly not sated to charge the hill and abuse this man more he began to witness something that surprised him. For many the throes of death cause a bitter cursing or a desperate weeping, yet this man appears to talk to God, not as punisher but as father, as equal.

By his hand Jesus was afixed to the cross, by his hand he nailed the Son of God to this denuded tree, by his hand he scarred the hands that would take on the sins of the world,

The Centurion physical crucified my Jesus, but it was our sin that was driven in and caused his blood to flow

Call into Crucifixion of sin - Hammer sins to the cross

Table - Luke 22:14-20

Blood stood on the doorframe, that the Holy SPirit might pass by, blood was spilt when the lamb was slain for this meal they would enjoy, and remember. They had been called to remembner that out of death (of the lamb), they were spared death when it came upon Egypt. And through this death, God’s people were finally released into freedom, no longer slaves, but free to be God’s chosen people, free to live in God’s country, to live by his rule, to worship at his temple, to no longer live under the yoke of slavery, but take on the mantle of sons.

As Rabbi, Jesus instantly commands the room, when he rises and speaks the conversation starts. In the midst of a meal though.

Call to the table - Communion -Crucified with Crhist