Night of Darkness

I’ve read the gospels many times but as I was reading Mark the other day, it struck me that we have no real perception or understanding of what Jesus experienced the night they came for him.

“They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took Peter, James and John along with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ He said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’ Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that if possible, the hour might pass from Him. ‘Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’” Mark 14:32-36 (NIV)

Jesus knew something horrific was about to happen to Him. I think we all assume it was fear of knowing that He would be tortured and put to death, but it was so much more. Yes, there had to be fear, after all Jesus was human, but He also knew He would have to face it alone and He must’ve felt deep heartache. He knew that one of His close friends had betrayed Him and He knew that Peter would deny Him. And possibly the most critical thing happening was that He was taking on the sins of the world: “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor 5:21 (NIV)  Jesus also knew and felt His Father turning away, Notice that He uses the name “Abba” when praying, not Yaweh or Adonai or any other of God’s names. No, He used Abba, which was the familiar term people used when speaking to their human fathers (dads). Oh, what loneliness and sorrow He must’ve felt!

Hebrews 10:5-7says, “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll - I have come to do your will, O God.’” And when Peter drew his sword and cut off the officer’s ear, Matthew 26:53-54 tells us that Jesus said, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled that says it must happen in this way?” Luke 22:53 (NLT) tells us that when the officers and temple guard went for Him, Jesus spoke: “…But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.” Satan must’ve been celebrating what he thought was a victory!

So, we know that Jesus willingly took on our sins as He allowed Himself to be a sacrifice so that we would have the freedom to choose life! What is required is that we believe in Him and that we confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Jesus told Nicodemus (in John 3) that no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born again. If we sincerely believe in Him and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, repentance is a natural thing that happens as we realize that we are so unworthy. That is when I believe the Holy Spirit gives birth to our spirit and we become alive in Christ and born again. Nothing complicated, just believe!

-Della Stevens (Work of Joy)