SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/1/2016 10:45 AM
My Worship Time Focus: The Anguish of Jesus
Bible Reading &
Meditation Reference: John 12:27-28a
Message of the verses: “27 "Now My soul has become troubled;
and what shall I say, ’Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I
came to this hour. 28 “Father, glorify Your name.’”
The
Following is the definition of the Greek word “tarasso” which is translated “has
become troubled,” in John 12:27 “1) to agitate, trouble (a thing, by the
movement of its parts to and fro)
1a) to cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind, disturb his
equanimity
1b) to disquiet, make restless
1c) to stir up
1d) to
trouble
1d1) to
strike one’s spirit with fear and dread
1e) to
render anxious or distressed
1f) to
perplex the mind of one by suggesting scruples or doubts”
I think
what Jesus is saying here is that I know that I came to planet earth for a
specific purpose, that is to become sin, to die on the cross so that others can
receive forgiveness, to separated from my Father for those three hours on the
cross while My Father pours out His wrath on me for those who will accept my
forgiveness, but not that the time is near my soul has become troubled over the
prospect of doing all of these things.
To say that Jesus had a lot on His plate at this time would be probably
the grossest understatement of all time.
Remember what Hebrews 12:2 says? “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author
and perfecter of faith, who for
the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down
at the right hand of the throne of God.”
I mentioned
in an earlier SD about what Jesus endured in the Garden of Gethsemane, and how
He sweat great drops of blood and was in agony over going to the cross as we
see here in verse 27. A number of years
ago I was thinking about passages like John 12:27 and the passage in the gospel
of Luke which describe the agony that Jesus was going through and I asked myself
was it possible for Jesus to become stressful?
Then I began to think about Philippians 4:6-7 which says “6 Be anxious
for nothing, but in
everything by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all
comprehension, will
guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I then thought that this is exactly what Jesus
did while in the garden contemplating what He was going to do. I asked my pastor if he though Jesus ever was
anxious and at first he did not think so, and even asked his wife after I
explained my thoughts to him and he agreed that with me that Jesus was anxious
at this point while in the garden. What
we see in verse 27 is a prelude to what will happen in the garden as Jesus becomes
troubled here.
John
MacArthur writes the following about the word tarasso: “It is a strong word, used figuratively to
speak of severe mental of spiritual agitation; of being disturbed, upset,
unsettled, or horrified (cf. Matt. 2:3; 14:26; Luke 1:12, 24:38; John 11:33;
12:21; 14:1, 27; Acts 15:24). The
perfect tense of the verb suggests that this was an ongoing struggle for the
sinless Savior, as He recoiled in revulsion from the implications of bearing
divine judgment for sin (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24).”
MacArthur quotes F. F.
Bruce about Jesus not going to the cross detached, indifferent, without
feeling: “The Johannine, Jesus is no
docetic actor in a drama, about to play a part which he can contemplate
dispassionately because it does not really involve Himself.” The following definition will help us
understand the word docetic “the doctrine, important in Gnosticism, that
Christ's body was not human but either a phantasm or of real but celestial
substance, and that therefore his sufferings were only apparent.” Let us look at Hebrews 5:7 “In the days of
His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and
tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His
piety.” Piety’s definition: “reverence toward God, godly fear, piety.”
We
will finish looking at this section in our next SD.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: Jesus was a man’s man, the ultimate man and I
don’t suppose that many people think of Him in that way, but when I think about
what it was that He went through for me, and for all who have come to know Him
as Savior and Lord, I have to conclude that about Him.
My Steps of Faith for
Today: Trust the One who came to earth to pay for my sins, the One who loves me
more than I can understand, trust Him to see me through each and every day.
Memory verses for the week: (Romans 6:13) “13 and do not go on presenting
the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present
yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments
of righteousness to God.”
Answer to yesterday’s Bible question: “Gadarenes” (Mark 5:1-9).
Today’s Bible question: “Name a woman who sold purple goods.”
Answer in our next SD.
10/1/2016 11:33 AM
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