Mindy Lee Hopman

While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.’ And he came up to Jesus at once and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ And he kissed him. Matthew 26:47-49 ESV

The Scent of The King

Jesus retreated to The Garden of Gethsemane to be one with The Father. Amongst the olive trees, He sought solitude through prayer. Isn’t oneness with The Father what we all crave today?

Mary of Bethany noticed Jesus, and her heart understood His power. So she took a pound of nard, an expensive perfume meant for kings or to be used in burial, to anoint Him. She wiped His royal feet with her hair, and Jesus retreated to the garden to pray. Even from far away, you could smell the nard. 

Jesus’ sorrow overwhelmed Him. He asked His Father for the cup to be taken from Him if there was any other way, but Jesus knew He came to the world for this sacrificial moment to bring God’s people, His beloved creation, back into a relationship with their Creator. He knew the road set before Him would be hard, but His heart ached for His dear friends who witnessed His teachings and miracles and were oblivious to what they were doing. The scripture of the prophets was being fulfilled. Nothing is a surprise to our all-knowing, loving King. Jesus knew the betrayal would occur. He humbled Himself, and He let it happen, and the people could smell Him from near and far.

The Power of The King

Most kingdoms are established by force, so Judas’ crowd brought swords and clubs, but what they didn’t know is Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world.

Power of this world comes from climbing to the top regardless of the cost of fame or fortune.
Power of this world is relentless, cruel, deceptive, and mean.
Power of The Word turns the world’s power upside down.
No sword or club could stop Him because He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and The Sword of The Spirit!

…and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17 (ESV) 

The Love of The King

Jesus’ kingdom blesses the poor, the hungry, those who weep, and those who are rejected. He states clearly the rich have already obtained their reward, those who are full now will be hungry later, those who laugh now will one day mourn and weep, and those whom all people speak well of will be judged (Luke 6). 

Jesus understood the big picture. While He was here, He taught us, and we learned how His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.

Our human hearts can not understand how Jesus let a friend betray Him with a symbol of love, but He continued to lead in a powerfully calm way, which makes us all want to follow Him through the garden straight to the cross. It’s in that messy space on the cross where He meets every one of us, and in our place, He bore our sins.

And then it’s me in The Garden of Gethsemane amongst the olive trees seeking solitude through prayer with The Father. This time, I feel the sorrow, the weight of our broken world, and it brings me to my knees, where I seek His face for comfort, wisdom, and discernment. And in that space, I find a nearness that can only be described as perfect peace. Peace found in the person of Jesus Christ.

When we seek Him, Jesus meets every one of us in our mess at the foot of the cross and sits with us there. At the foot of the cross we remember, Jesus went through the cross to get to the crown. On the other side of the cross, there is joy and an understanding that this world is only temporary. One day Jesus will return to wipe away every tear and make all things new, and for that, I am grateful!

Have you experienced such sorrow that has brought you to your knees? Even after His disciples witnessed His miracles, experienced His teachings, and became close friends, Jesus was still betrayed. The sadness overwhelmed Him because His people did not understand, but He loved them unconditionally.

Heavenly Father, I praise You for the upside-down kingdom Jesus brought to us by way of the cross and by the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings believers together to love and serve with our gifts as one body until He comes again, and for this, we are grateful. In the precious name of Jesus, I pray, Amen