THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
A young boy had just gotten his driving permit. He asked his father, who was a minister, if they could discuss the use of the car. His father took him to his study and said to him, "I'll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up, study your Bible a little and get your hair cut and we'll talk about it."
After about a month the boy came back and again asked his father if they could discuss use of the car. They again went to the father's study where his father said, "Son, I've been real proud of you. You have brought your grades up, you've studied your Bible diligently, but you didn't get your hair cut!"
The young man waited a moment and replied, "You know Dad, I've been thinking about that. You know, Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair, and even Jesus had long hair...."
To which his father replied, "Yes, and they walked every where they went!"
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________SCRIPTURE____________________________________________________________________
Matt 26:36-39
36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
KJV
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_______THOUGHT______________________________________________________________________
After having observed the Passover supper a night early with His disciples, Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane (John 18:1). This garden was across the brook Kidron, and on the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39).
It was in this place that Jesus, took Peter, James and John a little farther than the other disciples. Then Jesus left them to go even a little farther for prayer. It was then that Jesus, alone, prayed the High Priestly prayer of John 17.
His heart was breaking. He told the disciples He was "exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." He knew what was coming next; He had known since before the world was created. This night, He would be arrested, maligned, maliciously treated, spit upon, His beard plucked out by the roots, beaten with a cane. And then, on the next morning, after having suffered all night, Jesus would be crucified!
None could share the depth of this suffering. Jesus, the God-man, must bear it alone!
He prayed with deep humility, falling upon his face.
He prayed with great familiarity, "Abba, Father!"
He prayed with genuine surrender, "nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
On this "Good Friday," let us remember that our Lord humbled Himself to become a man. Then, as He was a man, He was obedient in all things, even to death. (See Philippians 2:5-8)
Let us also remember that, even in the greatest of all stress, He did not forget WHO He was - the "SON of GOD!"
And, finally, let us remember that Jesus was willing to become what we needed - THE "Sacrifice" for our sin!
Then, let us always walk humbly in this earth, being totally familiar with our "Father in heaven," and surrendering to be what He wants us to be.
Love ya,
Bruce