The Peacemaking Way of Jesus

by Emily Houghton, Nursery Ministry Coordinator

In last week’s meditation, we explored the reality of truth, sin and freedom – We reflected about how Jesus as Emmanuel (God with us) can bring humanity close to his heart. We wondered about how Jesus, as Truth, could lead believers into being living lights in our world.  

Pause: 

Take a moment and bring your awareness to your body. Oftentimes we, as humans, find our minds disconnected to the awareness of our bodies as we get swept up in the day to day. As a parent, you might find yourself subject to the demands of your children, house, work, pets… and find it difficult to feel connected with your own mind and body. That’s part of what meditation is for. Your body carries your feelings so faithfully – So turn your attention towards it. You don’t have to just breathe to enter into this space – maybe today you could stand up and shake out your legs and arms… or spend a couple minutes making funny faces in the mirror or wiggle your fingers and toes. Can you cozy up in your favorite place in the house? Drink some water or a warm cup of tea?  

Then, when you feel that you’ve settled in, give thanks to the Lord and invite him to speak to your heart.

This week we wonder together about Jesus as a peacemaker. First, we need to set the stage: 

There is no peace without recognition of brokenness. Jesus’ teachings help us recognize that the actionable invitation after our recognition of brokenness, is repentance. Repentance is a conversation of humility that happens between our heart and the heart of God when we realize that something is broken and a different way forward is needed. The reality in this life is: as we (believers) try and live with the conscious understanding that we can exist WITH God, sometimes things happen in our hearts or the world around us that keep our soul feeling alone. God never wants our soul to be alone… that’s why Jesus became human and died. Jesus shed blood and gave his life breath to fulfill the original design of creation – Unity between God and who he created and loved. Pause here and take a few deep breaths. Spend a moment receiving this truth into your body and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart.

Read: 

Matthew 26:36-46 

So Jesus went with them to the place called Gethsemane. ‘You sit there,’ He said to the disciples, ‘while I go over there and pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, and began to be very upset and distressed. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with grief,’ he said, ‘even to the death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ Then, going a little further on, he fell on his face and prayed. ‘My father,’ he said, ‘if it’s possible — please, please let this cup go away from me! But… not what I want, but what you want.’ He came back to the disciples and found them asleep. ‘So,’ he said to Peter, ‘couldn’t you keep watch with me for a single hour? Watch and pray so that you don’t get pulled down into the time of testing. The spirit is eager, but the body is weak.’ Again, for the second time, he went off and said, ‘My father, if it’s not possible for this to pass unless I drink it, let your will be done.’ Again he came and found them asleep; their eyes were heavy. Once more he left them and went away. He prayed for the third time, using the same words once again. Then he came back to the disciples. ‘You can sleep now,’ he said, ‘and have a good rest! Look — the time has come, and the son of man is given over into the hands of wicked people! Get up and let’s be going. Look! Here comes the one who’s going to betray me!’

Pause: 

Take a moment here to center your awareness on your body again. Are any feelings arising from reading this? Can you name the emotions? Name what you can, and then ask God to fill your awareness with his presence before continuing on.

Reflection: 

The disciples of Jesus lived and walked every day with him. They listened to him teach, they’d seen him frustrated when people didn’t understand what he was talking about. They saw when he was angry and when he knelt down to gather children into his arms… but they always had seen him as the strong one… soaring with vision of God and the kingdom. And now this… Jesus in melt-down mode as he begged and begged his father for a different way. He prayed the prayer he’d taught the disciples: ‘Don’t let us be brought into a time of testing’ and ‘may your will be done.’ He was living what he taught as the Sermon on the Mount began to come true in him – as he faced the suffering and sorrow of what was ahead. We see Jesus here, fighting in private, the spiritual battle he needed to win if he was to die for God’s kingdom. And yet he asked his disciples to stay awake and watch with him… Jesus asked his friends to stay with him and pray alongside him. Even Jesus (who was the fulfillment of centuries of Israel’s prayers for deliverance) longed for his friends’ support. 

Let’s Wonder: 

N.T. Wright says this: “When we ourselves find the ground giving way beneath our feet, as sooner or later we all shall, Gethsemane is where to go. That is where we find that the Lord of the world, the one to whom is now committed all authority, has been there before us.” 

After all Jesus had said came to pass, and he rose again, he met his people on a mountain and told them: ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me! So you must go and make all the nations into disciples. Baptize them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit. Teach them to observe everything I have commanded you. And look: I am with you, every single day, to the very end of the age.’

May we daily say yes to being Jesus’ disciple, weeping with those who weep, watching and praying alongside. May we use all we have to bring his light to our world. Lord may your kingdom come and your will be done. 

Amen.