Walking Through The New Testament

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

Luke 22:39-46
39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[c]

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Being in anguish, His prayer was strengthened! In anguish, our prayers are stronger. It is at the point of brokenness that we are at our most powerful.

There is a purity which overtakes us when we are in the process of a trial. Yes, they do hurt, but something more happens. Clarity of mind and purpose cloaks our every thought, and if you are faithful and believe, your trial will be turned to triumph. Have faith in God, and when you are in the midst of trial turn to Jesus and ask Him to take from you what has already been taken.

ASK…Ask, Seek, Knock. Jesus has told us that we must ask God for the things that we want and need. Continue to ask. Continue to seek Him. Continue to knock. He is not ignoring you, but rather He is strengthening you in the waiting.

Don’t stop. He is just on the other side. Persevere! Have Faith, for He is with you. Always!

Thank you Jesus! Amen.
DK

Jesus knew His time had come. He loved His disciples so much…

Luke 22:35-38
35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’[b]; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

Prepare. Jesus was always ready for what was to come next. Jesus was fulfilling all prophecy so that we would be forgiven.

Amen.
DK

“That’s enough!” he replied.

Give it all to Jesus.

Luke 22:24-34
24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

To serve. Simply to serve. That is the teaching of Jesus. If we don’t, then this world will grab us. We will have conformed. We will fall.

But Jesus says, if we serve we will be served when it matters. I know, I know, this world is beautiful, after all God made it. It presses us to go for more. So much that it overflows from our cups. Then we throw it away when we should be giving away.

Imagine a world that says that, “I would rather throw this away than to give it someone who needs it.” That is the American way, or so it seems. Perhaps it’s just the human condition. Whatever it is, I am not saying that is what you are doing.

Bott line…if you say Yes to something, you are saying No to something else. Say yes to Jesus, then watch this world change before your eyes.

Amen.
DK

The table is set…

Luke 22:14-23
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.[a] 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

The beauty of the last supper, and the realization that betrayal was at that same table, is incredible. Jesus loves us so much, that He sat and ate His last meal with the very man that would turn Him in. With those that would betray Him physically and emotionally He ate and loved. Jesus truly is our example for grace, humility, service, and mercy.

To live as Jesus lived! That should be our battle cry. Every day that we walk into hostility and trials, we should ask to handle the situation the way that our Savior Jesus Christ did.

In these verses, Jesus breaks bread and drinks wine with us. He let’s us know that He will not take it again until He comes again. And when He comes, we will feast with Him and celebrate the opportunity to worship and honor Him forever.

Lord, I receive your unmerited favor. I receive your gifts and promises, all 6000 of them. Abba Father, although we have betrayed you, and we have sinned, and have not lived pure and Holy lives the way that Jesus did, I know that I am forgiven. It is through this confession and repentance that change will occur. Lord, you have made it very clear to us that my debt is paid, that my sins have been forgiven forever, that I will be with you in Heaven forever. God help me to continue to press into you daily, to become more and more like Jesus. To live the way He lived, and to sacrifice and serve whomever you place in front of me. Father, allow my life to be a living prayer for all to see your love, so that You will be glorified.

Amen.
DK

There was no doubt in Jesus’ mind how this was going to happen…

Luke 22:7-13
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

His friends. His followers. His brothers, followed His direction and found just what Jesus told them that they would find. He directs them to where they would find what was needed to complete any task ahead of them, which in this case would be their last meal together.

Jesus has done the same for us. He has left us instructions in order to prepare for the feast to come with our Redeemer and Creator. He will welcome us with open arms on that faithful day. Until then, we must travel to strange places, to new territory, to never before known locale, even in our homes and work places, that will bring us closer to His plan for our lives. We must trust in Him.

Do not try to go ahead of the Holy Spirit and do it your way. Instead, pray and ask that God’s will be done in your life, with His perfect timing, through His perfect plan. When you do, that which you thought was impossible becomes not only possible, but magnified and revealing for so many. It is through the gifts of patience and a discerning mentality that you will begin to hear the Holy Spirit speak to you with instruction. This is done through reading the written word, speaking that written word, then living the word and becoming a living, breathing, walking prayer that will bless with even your shadow.

Thank you Jesus. Thank you for your instructions you have left us in the Holy Bible, and for your gift of the Holy Spirit that walks with us and lives in us. Oh Emmanuel, we love you and are humbly thankful for all the many riches that you have so gratefully bestowed upon us. We are only worthy because of your gift of salvation and redemption that is found in only you. We love you.

Amen!
DK