We are sharing "Stained Glass Meditations" composed by our Session (ruling) elders during Lent. They'll appear here on the web site's blog, on our Facebook page, and via blast email.
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’
- Mark 14: 32-36
This window shows Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. He took Peter, James and John along with him. He was very upset and troubled saying, “my soul is very sad. I feel close to death.” He asked them to stay back and keep watch. He thought by staying on guard, they would not be tempted by sin. Jesus went a little farther and kneeled down. He prayed to God, “Take this cup of suffering away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want.” An angel came from heaven and appeared to Jesus. This gave him strength and then began to pray harder.
These passages represent obedience to God through Jesus’ acknowledgement of authority. This obedience is its true self when it is part of a relationship in which love and trust are its motive.
Parents who expect their children to be obedient also need to experience this loving and trusting authority. Their parents live by example by answering to the authority of their God based principles.
In our hectic lives, it is difficult to find time to pray. For example a mother with small children rarely gets a few minutes of quiet time to seek the Lord. A business person spends all his or her time in meetings, on the phone, or travelling. Once again Jesus was extremely busy but takes the time to be by himself and pray as shown in this window. Prayer makes the difference between doing it your way or God’s way.
May we seek God’s will every day. He will deliver time and time again in the most unexpected ways.
The flower below is the Rose of Sharon. It was mentioned in Solomon 2:1. The center includes a heart imbedded with a cross, which represents Jesus’ love for humanity and love for God, who gave him strength to endure the suffering on the cross.
- Lou Petty
References: Mark 14:32-36, Luke 22:39-43
Ask The Bible, By R.T. Brooks
Faith In Motion, By E. Larry Beaumont
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’
- Mark 14: 32-36
This window shows Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. He took Peter, James and John along with him. He was very upset and troubled saying, “my soul is very sad. I feel close to death.” He asked them to stay back and keep watch. He thought by staying on guard, they would not be tempted by sin. Jesus went a little farther and kneeled down. He prayed to God, “Take this cup of suffering away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want.” An angel came from heaven and appeared to Jesus. This gave him strength and then began to pray harder.
These passages represent obedience to God through Jesus’ acknowledgement of authority. This obedience is its true self when it is part of a relationship in which love and trust are its motive.
Parents who expect their children to be obedient also need to experience this loving and trusting authority. Their parents live by example by answering to the authority of their God based principles.
In our hectic lives, it is difficult to find time to pray. For example a mother with small children rarely gets a few minutes of quiet time to seek the Lord. A business person spends all his or her time in meetings, on the phone, or travelling. Once again Jesus was extremely busy but takes the time to be by himself and pray as shown in this window. Prayer makes the difference between doing it your way or God’s way.
May we seek God’s will every day. He will deliver time and time again in the most unexpected ways.
The flower below is the Rose of Sharon. It was mentioned in Solomon 2:1. The center includes a heart imbedded with a cross, which represents Jesus’ love for humanity and love for God, who gave him strength to endure the suffering on the cross.
- Lou Petty
References: Mark 14:32-36, Luke 22:39-43
Ask The Bible, By R.T. Brooks
Faith In Motion, By E. Larry Beaumont