The Fall of Christ, Chapter 1: The Beginning of Sorrows

Listen.

Listen, for what I am about to tell you is true. It is the heartbeat of the world. It is your heartbeat. These things are true, and they are the only reason we have hope. It is the heartbeat of the Bible, and every verse, every syllable leans in toward this story: The story, the true story, what happened in history with real people with flesh and bone and blood and hopes and dreams.

The Fall of Christ.
Chapter One: The Beginning of Sorrows.

---

The Prince sat on his Throne in the City of Light, and he looked toward creation. His creation. His love. And what he saw was sorrow. His creation rejected him. And rejecting him meant they rejected every good thing, for every good gift came from him.

So, he and the Father wove a plan. It held a high cost, a dear cost, but it would be enough to redeem the entire world, to bring it back to them, to grow joy where sorrow had laid down deep, deep roots. The Prince was willing to pay that cost.

The health of the bile, bile ducts, and gallbladder is inextricably bound to the health amerikabulteni.com levitra canadian pharmacy of the pancreas. Not just schedule buster, this issue can be cured only by the use of certain drugs like india viagra pills and cialis. So you should try this remedy to erase the bad memories of impotency and to create a new fresh memory in your life by getting the power of love making like you did in your teenage tadalafil cheap days. Age: As you age, your chances of getting pregnant decreases while the get viagra cheap amerikabulteni.com risk for miscarriages increase.

The Father whispered, “It’s time.”

The Prince stood from his throne there in the City of Light. And he answered, “Father, your will be done.” He set aside his crown of glory. He left behind his throne. He left behind his power, his wealth, his abilities. He left it all behind… And he was born. A newborn, not even able to hold up his head, born in poverty to two weary parents.

And so Jesus came into a dark world. He came, full of grace and truth. And he lived that truth, a Light shining in the darkness.

The darkness did not understand.

It marshaled its forces against him.

---

Jesus preached for three years, and then gathered with his disciples for one last meal together. And during that meal, his treasurer stormed away. The disciples didn’t know what he was doing. Maybe giving some money to the poor? It would be like Judas to do that. He was always concerned with the poor.

But that’s not what Judas left to do.

After the meal, Jesus took his disciples out beyond the city walls. They walked down from the mountain Jerusalem was built on, down from Mount Zion, and trod a familiar path through the Kidron Valley. It was a full moon – as it was every Passover – so they were able to see where they were going well.

They went to a secluded olive orchard. A solitary place, far from the bustle of the Passover crowds. The cool night air was comfortable. A good place to rest. As they walked, Jesus was quiet. The disciples chatted about when Judas would catch up to them, about how Jesus had embarrassed all the religious leaders repeatedly just two days ago on Tuesday, how Jesus had taken the Passover ceremonies and changed them, giving them some new thing – a Lord’s Supper. Jesus’ mind was elsewhere, though.

As they entered the orchard, Jesus turned and faced them. “Keep watch.” And there was something in his voice. Some strain there. He wanted them to pray. Pray with him. Pray for him.

He took his three closest friends – Peter, James, and John. And the four of them went deeper into the orchard, under the spreading branches of the olive trees. They were quiet now. Their sandals crunched against dried grass. Finally, Jesus turned to them. “Stay here and keep watch. Remain vigilant.” Something is coming.

And Jesus walked even farther into the orchard… and he fell. His legs couldn’t bear up under the weight of what was coming. Not any more. It was no silent night. It was no peaceful scene. Here was a man overwhelmed.

And he prayed.

He prayed a repeated prayer of anguish. He prayed over and over and over and over again: “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Abba. Father.
Not Lord. Not Sovereign. Not an address of deep respect, but one of deep intimacy. This wasn’t someone begging a distant king, but someone begging their daddy. “Take it away.”

Jesus knew what was coming. Death. And not just any death. A cursed death. He had announced to ancient Israel 1500 years before: Cursed is anyone who is hung on a tree. And now he would bear that curse. For us, yes. Yes, worth it. But that didn’t mean he wanted that pain, that curse, that judgment. He was overwhelmed. This was God. God made flesh. And he was overwhelmed. That was how much weight lay on him that night as he prayed, as he begged. Take it away! If there’s any other way, let’s do that.

But even in this struggle, even in this time of darkness, he trusted. “Father, everything is possible for you. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Even as he knew the pain that was coming, he trusted the Father’s plan. He knew that what the Father willed was best, even if it would hurt him. Because God is good, what he wills is good. And Jesus clung to his Father’s goodness.

For hours he prayed, pled, wrestled, trusted.

And as he prayed, the light of hundreds of torches exited the gates of the city on the hill opposite him. They snaked their way down the path toward the olive grove.

Meanwhile, the disciples… slept. It had been a long day. Passover always was. It was always emotional; sacrificing the lamb, keeping all the traditions. And Jesus was more emotional than normal. He’d washed their feet. There’d been that thing with Judas leaving. They still didn’t understand that. Jesus had given them the cup of blessing and said, “This is my blood.” It was all so much, and in the cool night air… they fell asleep.

They weren’t watching as Jesus had asked. They didn’t encourage him. Jesus was alone. He returned to them after praying one final time. And as he watched the torches approaching, he roused them. “Get up. My betrayer is here.”

The orchard flooded with flickering light. The crowd entered the rows of trees and easily found the group just as Jesus and his inner circle rejoined the rest of the twelve. The crowd roared and pointed, running to get to them. The disciples were just waking up, confused. Peter, James, and John shifted on their feet, ready to run, ready to flee, ready to do anything, just Jesus show us what we’re supposed to do, show us what you want!

But Jesus just stood there, watching, as the crowd circled them. He observed the swords. The clubs. And his eyes locked on one member of the crowd. A friend. A friend named Judas.

Judas had arranged it. Jesus’ enemies wanted Jesus arrested. Not a look-alike. Not one of his followers. Jesus himself. And if they were going to make the arrest at night, they needed someone who could ID him without a shadow of a doubt. And Judas… he could do that. So he arranged a signal: The one he greeted as a teacher, the one he kissed, the way that students greeted their teachers with a kiss, that was Jesus.

And so that’s what Judas did. As the other disciples started in confusion, as Peter and John and James continued waiting for Jesus to act, Judas marched right up to Jesus and kissed him on each cheek. “Teacher!”

Not all who call Jesus “teacher” mean it.

And as soon as the sign was given… the crowd collapsed in. They grabbed Jesus. They tied his hands. Their sword were out, threatening.

And what Jesus prayed came true: Not as I will, but…

And his disciples finally fled. Peter and John and James and all the others, running away, hiding among the trees, sobbing and shaking as they sprinted with hearts bursting with shame and fear.

Jesus stood alone.

---

Did you notice who wasn’t there?

You.

You didn’t stand with Jesus. And don’t think you would have. Jesus stood alone. Even in the darkness, he trusted his Father. He allowed himself to be taken without resisting.

Why?

He was betrayed so you might know his faithfulness. Though you have betrayed him for a moment of pleasure or pride, he has never betrayed you. And you have his record of faithfulness, because in his death he gave you all he is.

He was arrested and bound to release you from bondage. Your sins do not enslave you anymore. Your shames do not control you. You are free, because Jesus took your sins and your shames and gave you all he is.

He is betrayed. He is arrested.

He falls.