Sunday, March 4, 2007
Mark 14:32-42
Minister of Discipleship
If you grew up in the church, then a famous picture may have come into your mind as we read these words this morning. I know it did for me. It is the picture of Jesus kneeling in the garden of Gethsemane. In the picture Jesus is kneeling at a large stone and there is this beautiful ray of light shining down on him. As a child that was a comforting picture to me…it reminded me that Jesus understood the difficult times of human life; it told me that Jesus knew what it was to be alone when those closest to you didn’t understand what you were going through; and most importantly, that ray of light shining down promised me that God was there in the midst of the trials of life. All of those things are true, but there is one thing that picture didn’t teach me as a young child…it didn’t portray the incredible difficulty of surrendering your will into God’s will. It took a number of years before someone would give me a most vivid picture of THAT part of the Gethsemane experience! Let’s watch Mel Gibson’s portrayal of this moment in the passion story……… [show scene three from Passion of the Christ]
People have had many things to say about Mel Gibson’s movie, Passion of the Christ, since it first came out a couple of years ago. But the one thing you hear over and over again is that it is incredibly graphic. Most people think about the blood and violence when they talk about the graphic nature of this film, but for me, this scene in the garden is almost as graphic. Gibson has captured the incredible agony and pain it must have taken for Jesus, the human being, to surrender his will. Many theologians have said that this was actually the first part of Jesus’ crucifixion. In just a few short hours Jesus’ body will be crucified – his body will be put to death. But, as he knelt in the garden that night something else was crucified….his personal will – his own “wants” were put to death so that God’s plan could live on.
I won’t speak for you, but I must admit that for me to give up what I want—to give up my will—is just as excruciating and painful as what we just watched in this film clip! I don’t like “giving up,” I don’t like having to admit that God may have a better plan for my life. I want to be in control; I want things to go according to my plan; I want things nice and neat. And, oh yes, it would be nice if things were easy and pain-free. But the life of discipleship doesn’t work that way! Jesus told his followers that if they wanted to be his disciples they must pick up their cross and follow him. To pick up the cross means that crucifixion lies ahead – crucifixion of our will. To pick up the cross means giving up what we want for what God wants for us.
Richard Foster says in his book on prayer that this “crucifixion of the will” will change us little by little. We will be changed “not like a tornado changes things, but like a grain of sand in an oyster changes things.” Little by little grace emerges. Little by little we will find new ability to cast all our care upon God. Little by little we will learn how to genuinely put other people’s needs before our own. Little by little we will be able to give more joyfully and freely.
[Richard Foster, Prayer—Finding The Heart’s True Home, pg 54]
This time in the garden has come to be called the Prayer of Relinquishment. This form of prayer is an important part of a life of discipleship. Every Deeply Devoted Disciple must learn how to pray as Jesus prayed in the garden that night. Richard Foster teaches us a step-by-step process for developing this life, this prayer of Relinquishment:
1) Self-emptying---read through the second chapter of the book of Philippians. Look at how Jesus emptied himself and did not see his place with God, the Father, as something to be exploited or used for himself. Instead he emptied himself so God could work through him. Begin to pray about how you could “empty” your wants and desires so God has more room to work in your life.
2) Surrender—reread our scripture from today. Go with Jesus into the garden. Stay awake and watch. Struggle with him in seeking other options, hoping to avoid the cup God has planned. Then speak his words as your own words, “Not my will, but yours be done.” Think about what that means in your life, your family, your vocation.
3) Abandonment—Now that you have thought about what it would mean to do God’s will not your own will, abandon those things that are not a part of God’s plan for you at this time.
4) Release—Place those things that need to be given up into God’s loving hands. Give your family, your other relationships, your vocation, your desires ,your future to God and then walk away leaving them there with God.
5) Hope—Learn to live with the hope that God always provides. Remember that just as Jesus gave himself totally to the crucifixion of his will and his body, he trusted that there was new life yet to come in God.
[Richard Foster, Prayer—Finding The Heart’s True Home]
Are you ready to go into that garden this Lenten season? Are you ready to stay awake, to deal with the anguish and pain of giving up your wants? Are you ready for the crucifixion that comes with the cross? This is a good time and a good place to think about those questions. As you come forward to the table of Holy Communion today, remember that Last Supper when Jesus gathered with his disciples. And then, as you turn to leave, remember that after the supper Jesus went out into the garden to pray. What it would mean for you to leave this table today and to pray the Prayer of Relinquishment in your own garden of Gethsemane?
Here is a prayer for you to use this week as you work on this difficult process in the discipleship journey:
O Lord, how do I let go when I’m so unsure of things? I’m unsure of your will, and I’m unsure of myself…That really isn’t the problem at all, is it? The truth of the matter is I hate the very idea of letting go. I really want to be in control. No, I need to be in control. That’s it, isn’t it? I’m afraid to give up control, afraid of what might happen. Heal my fear, Lord.
How good of you to reveal my blind spots even in the midst of my stumbling attempts to pray. Thank you!
But now what do I do? How do I give up control? Jesus, please, teach me your way of relinquishment. – Amen.
[Richard Foster, Prayer—Finding The Heart’s True Home]