Monday, February 25, 2013
Luke 22:39-41 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed.
PASSIONATE PRAYERS OF OUR SAVIOR -- IN THE GARDEN
Jesus, in Thy thirst and pain, While Thy wounds Thy life-blood drain,
Thirsting more our love to gain: Hear us, holy Jesus.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 184:1)
Jesus said from the cross as seen from the Gospel of John, "I thirst" (19:28). The "thirst" was indeed a physical thirst. It once again proves that this Jesus "the Christ" was fully and truly man. But there was a much greater thirst that Jesus had, and it wasn't for water.
This thirst of Jesus goes back to the Mount of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus' thirst was for the eternal welfare of His disciples souls. His loving care was shown in cautioning them to be alert and watch out for temptation. His concern was their falling in their faith!
Thirst for us in mercy still, Satisfy Thy loving will:
All Thy holy work fulfill. Hear us, holy Jesus.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 184:2)
But Jesus' thirst went farther back than the Garden of Gethsemane! It went back to the Garden of Eden when after mankind's disobedience God's promise revealed God's thirst for our righteousness and holiness -- a righteousness that could only come through the bloody sacrifice of His perfect Son, Jesus our Savior.
So we see the longing thirst of Jesus for our soul's redemption throughout history! And by that history the Holy Spirit creates in us a thirst to hear again and again that loving history of Christ our Lord! It is a thirst that remembers that when it comes to prayer, just like the disciples back in that Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus is never far from me!
May we thirst Thy love to know; Lead us in our sin and woe
Where the healing waters flow: Hear us, holy Jesus.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 184:3)
