The Joy That Overcame the Dread

The records of what happened in Gethsemane show how hard the situation was on Jesus. Luke’s gospel even has a possible added note about his sweating drops of blood during that experience. How he managed the situation can guids us in doing likewise.

Yielding to temptation is easier than resisting it. We enjoy the experience; that’s why we do it. So we must remember that actions have consequences. If we don’t want some consequence, we have to resist the temptation that leads to it. If we want the consequence, we must endure the dread that works against it. “Strength for today” comes from “bright hope for tomorrow.” “The joy that lay before him” enabled Jesus to set aside the shame, withstand the hostility, overcome the dread, and endure the cross (Hebrews 12:1-4)

These emblems bring back to mind the struggle he went through for us and how he did it. So we commit to do likewise with our own temptations.

Hymn: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” by Thomas O. Chisholm