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Easter – The Journey

The Garden

And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. LUKE 22:41-44 ESV

Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” LUKE 22:52-53 ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. EPHESIANS 6:12 ESV

The Cross

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. MATTHEW 16:21 ESV

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:46 ESV

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 1 TIMOTHY 2:5 ESV

Jesus was broken so your relationship with God could be healed-

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. JOHN 15:13 ESV

The Grave

For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. 2 CORINTHIANS 13:4a ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. GALATIANS 2:20 ESV

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Take a few moments to slow down, releasing any burdens and/or stressors from your day. Invite God into this time, asking Him to help you be real with yourself and Him as you pray. Consider Jesus in the garden. To whom do you most relate? Judas, kissing Jesus on the cheek? Peter, defending Him? Malchus, getting his ear cut off and then restored? The other disciples, scattering and running away? Someone else? Now focus your attention on Jesus: picture Him in this scene. How does He react to you? Imagine His love and compassion for you, whoever you best relate to in the scene. What would Jesus say to you in that moment? What might He want to say to you now? Spend time with this, allowing the love of Jesus to wash over you. Confess anything you may need to confess to Him, and thank Jesus for anything you feel compelled to thank Him for. When you are ready, close your time by thanking Jesus for His ultimate surrender to God’s plan for Him to die on the cross for you. Ask Jesus to make Himself known in new and deeper ways to you this week. Write down any reflections in the space below, and share them with someone this week.

Discussion Questions

  1. THE GARDEN: When was a time when you asked God to rescue you from suffering or difficulty, and God didn’t respond in the way you had prayed? How did you respond to God?
  2. THE HUMANITY OF JESUS: How does the fact that Jesus understands, firsthand, what it’s like to suffer (from anxiety, fear, discouragement, etc.) help grow your connection to and trust in Him?
  3. THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS: Consider that Jesus offered the ultimate surrender on the cross. What in your life do you need to surrender to follow God more completely?
  4. THE NEW LIFE WITH JESUS: What in you has been (or can be) resurrected because of the life of Jesus (and the power of God) in you?
  5. TAKE ACTION: If you’ve chosen life with Christ, then the next step is to be baptized. Sign up at sandalschurch.com/baptism. If you’ve been baptized, whom could you come alongside to help them experience new life in Christ with you?
  6. GO DEEPER: To dive deeper into these concepts this week, check out the new Bible Reading Plan on the Sandals Church app.