This devotional book is a contemplative journey
through the Gospels. God with Us invites its
readers to share in the "eyewitness" accounts of
those who met Jesus and watched his love in
action. It is a deeper gaze into his earthly life and
an opportunity to enter into the story and see and
hear him personally, including right now.
through the Gospels. God with Us invites its
readers to share in the "eyewitness" accounts of
those who met Jesus and watched his love in
action. It is a deeper gaze into his earthly life and
an opportunity to enter into the story and see and
hear him personally, including right now.
Excerpts:
34 – Things to Come
Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down
with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,
and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.
For it will come upon all those who live
on the face of the whole
earth. Be always on the watch and pray . . .
Luke 21:34-36a
At that time men will see the Son of Man coming
in clouds with great power and glory.
Mark 13:26 and Daniel 7:13
A CONTEMPLATIVE VIEW
“A God too large to walk in
human shoes
Has outgrown every hope of
human use.
And heavy skeptics weighted down
with doubt
Can never rise to find what
God’s about.”*
*From The Finale by Calvin Miller, third book in the Singer Trilogy, published by InterVarsity Press, Copyright
© 1975, 1977, 1979, 1990. Used with permission.
Andrew, one of Jesus’ apostles . . .
As one of his closest men, Jesus confided in me. I don’t know how I earned his trust, I didn’t do anything out of
the ordinary for him—not like my brother Peter, for example, who made bold, spontaneous leaps and bounds
for him on countless occasions.
As a reflective man, I was the opposite of Peter. I let my thoughts settle and steep inside of me. I pondered
things I observed and heard—especially when it involved our Rabbi. About Jesus and the things I learned or
witnessed, I usually kept them—whether a treasure or a doubt—to myself. But I believe Jesus knew my heart
and mind. Perhaps that is why he so often took me aside privately to talk.
I was terribly unsettled as we trudged up the Mount of Olives behind our Master the afternoon he last went into
the temple. We left Jerusalem with heavy hearts. Jesus had just unleashed a torrent of scorching words there,
ending with what sounded to my ears like a promise that he’d not return.
Our beloved Rabbi, in a matter of minutes, had dashed to pieces all my hopes and dreams in and for him. Here
we were, it seemed, following him away from everything I believed in.
The temple was the central hub in the wheel of Jewish faith. And now, my faith in Jesus’ identity was in question
once again. How could he possibly fulfill the prophecies about the Messiah and yet not set foot in the temple
until his enemies there believed in him? How would they ever know him? They certainly would execute him
now. Since, at the same time, Jesus insisted that he would suffer and die, I could finally see his predictions
coming true.
Nothing made sense anymore, not to my way of thinking. Why would our long-awaited Messiah die? Who was
this man to whom I was giving my life?
We disciples were understandably distraught as we tagged along behind him. I tried to get Jesus to open up to
us while we walked away from Jerusalem. I did this indirectly by asking him to look at what he was leaving
behind. Truly, my words to him meant more than what was on the surface, for we all knew how much he loved
the temple—“Look, Rabbi!” I said, while waving my hand across the panoramic view falling behind us, “What
magnificent buildings!”
“Do you see all these things?” he asked, first looking at me, then at the view. He continued, with a stern look, “I
tell you the truth, not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
At this, my heart nearly stopped. He continued up the steep road.
When we came to the place on the mount where Jesus liked to pray, we left him alone, realizing he needed the
solitude. We sat apart from him and talked among ourselves. We didn’t know what to think. Our hearts were in
turmoil. Finally, four of us went to him and asked him more about his prediction regarding his return which he
said would happen after the rulers recognized him as “coming in the name of the Lord.”
This is what troubled us. We couldn’t imagine them ever believing in him in that way. His face brightened when
we approached him with our concerns. He invited me to sit beside him. I asked, “Tell us when will this happen,
and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
And so, on that occasion, he told us about many things to come.
WONDER JUST A LITTLE
Jesus gave important, parting words to his disciples about what to expect after he was gone. He told them he
was leaving his Kingdom in their hands and that it would grow until it covered the entire earth—and that that
would happen before his return.
Seated on the mount, on that spring day during the week of Passover, Jesus told them many things that would
come to pass. First, he spoke of the destruction of the temple (which would happen in 70 A.D). He also
warned them about persecution and how they should respond.
The recurring Messianic theme in the Old Testament Scriptures was the deliverance and hope of Israel.
Likewise, Jesus revealed specific warnings regarding the last days concerning Israel.
He gave signs for his second coming and said that they would be like “birth pangs” leading up to the climax
when he would return. Beloved reader, many of these signs are escalating to that climax right now.
About his Jewish nation, he said, “There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They
will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the
Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Luke 21:20-24
The Jews have always been hated, because Satan hates what is precious to God. God’s people are the brunt of
the enemy’s most gruesome deeds; it’s been this way all throughout Jewish and Christian history. When Hitler’s
terror ended, the Jews began to return to their land. This became the beginning of the end of the times of the
Gentiles. Only one or two of Jesus’ signs have not yet happened: “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will
not give its light; the stars will fall.” Mark 12:24-27
And, the sign concerning Israel regarding “Jacob’s troubles” could be happening right now. Jesus said, “There
will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—never to be equaled again.”
Matthew 24:21
One day there will be national deliverance of Israel but probably not until the second coming of the Son of Man.
About that day, Jesus said, “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the
coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:27
What is obvious in these signs of Scripture, given to us by God, is that Israel is at the center of end-time events.
She is also at the center of our daily news. Jesus wants us to be alert and on guard, and not weighed down. He
wants us ready. He said we would know the times . . . “When you see the fig tree sprout its leaves . . .” This
could be the sign of prophecy being fulfilled in our generation. The nations that are gathered around her in hate,
is another sign. We need to be well aware of these things, just as Jesus told us to be.
As his bride we long for him, sober in faith, ready in hope. We are his beloved, waiting for him on tiptoe,
straining our eyes and hearts for that wondrous glimpse of him. We have “oil in jars along with our lamps”—and
we are prepared. He’s been gone a long time, his return has been delayed—just as his parable said it would be.
But we want to be ready when he comes. “At midnight the cry will ring out, ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come and
meet him!’”
Today, we look forward to his glorious return. He comes to us through his Spirit and readies us for that
wonderful day when we will see him at long last.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
How amazing it would have been to have heard, for the first time, Jesus’ words, “When the Son of Man comes
in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered
before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the
goats.” Matthew 25:31-32
How the disciple’s hearts must have burned to hear such things. Surely the Lord lifted their doubting, troubled
hearts at that time. The “throne” Jesus spoke of was the Throne of David, in Jerusalem, on earth. He clearly
said that he would sit in heavenly glory upon that throne. He was that holy, eternal heir—the one to bring
harmony and restoration to earth, bind up Satan, and renew God’s creation. His glory would fill the entire earth.
Surely, their doubts lifted upon the hearing of his powerful, promising words!
His kingdom would be heaven on earth, not the earthly kingdom Jesus’ disciples imagined at that time. As Jesus
sat with his men that day on the Mount of Olives, when he looked into their eyes and gave them words of hope
and warning, it was also for us. At that time, Jesus knew his time to leave was approaching swiftly. He had
outgrown his time to stay with us as a man.
Prayerfully imagine how Jesus might have felt after he delivered his impassioned, final words in the temple and
during his walk away from there, up the Mount of Olives. Watch him as he finds a place to sit and pray on the
mount. What is his expression as he gazes down upon that spectacular view he loved of Jerusalem? What do
you suppose his prayer was? What do you think it was like for his disciples to be with him during that time?
Read the things he said to them and try to see and hear him. What was his tone of voice? What was his body
language?
Ask the Lord to reveal what his predictions mean today. Be open to what is on his heart concerning world
events these days. What is he saying to you personally that he wants you to be aware of, or do, during these
turbulent times?
JOURNAL
It is by no accident that Jesus’ beloved Israel has survived and is a nation today, still awaiting the deliverance of
her Messiah. Christians are grafted into that tree. Israel’s eyes are blinded and it is our eyes that are opened.
Can you sense the love Jesus has for his Jewish people? What message, sign, or words of advice meant the
most to you in this chapter? Describe in your journal your feelings, or what has been revealed to you. Is there
anything you wish to ask Jesus now? Record in your journal what the Lord wants you to know—about his love
for you, or the times you live in.
35 – Love’s Anointing
She has done a beautiful thing to me.
Matthew 26:10b
So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.
From then on Judas watched
for an opportunity to hand him over.
Matthew 26:15b-16
A CONTEMPLATIVE VIEW
Mary, from Bethany . . .
I trembled most of the evening with my plan to anoint the Messiah as he reclined at a banqueting table at Simon
the Leper’s house. Of all the houses in Bethany, Simon’s villa had the largest capacity for the crowd of people
who came from Jerusalem, Bethany, and Galilee to honor Rabbi Jesus from Nazareth. Tables were laden with
food for dozens of guests, and I was supposed to be seated with Martha in another room. Simon’s dinner
became a spirited celebration. While Lazarus was someone everyone wanted to see and touch, most of the
excitement came on the heels of Jesus’ kingly entry into Jerusalem for the week of Passover.
Most of us were convinced that Jesus was King David’s heir to the throne—Israel’s eternal King, without
beginnings, come to us at last. I knew, since Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, that Jesus was much more
than a prophet. He astounded Martha and me, in the hour of our deepest grief, by saying that he was the
“Resurrection and the Life,” and then proved it, bringing Lazarus back after four days in the grave. Oh, yes, our
Messiah had come from God in heaven. And he is the Giver of life—our good friend, Jesus.
I nervously watched while he reclined in the place of honor beside my brother.
I tried to imagine how I would approach him and how he might react to my anointing him. But this gave me such
nerves that I decided not to plan out my exact course of action, but simply wait for the right moment and let my
heart show me the way.
There were three tables of Jesus’ closest followers and guests in the largest room. Hidden from view, I stood
beside a tall planter filled with meandering vines near an archway. Even my green-colored clothing, by
happenstance, helped me remain unnoticed. From here I could watch Master Jesus at his table, his back
towards me. He turned my way a couple of times, probably because he could feel my gaze upon him. But if he
saw me, he did not let on. I could not stop myself from reveling in the sight of him. He was like water to my
thirsty soul.
There was a lot of commotion, musicians playing music, people laughing and talking loudly. People glided past
me continually, but no one cared anything about me standing there, except Martha. Once, while walking from
one room to another, she stopped to look at me for a moment, long enough to shrug her shoulders. She did not
rebuke me, for she knew that my desire was to be near the Teacher. I held the slender alabaster vial tightly and
waited, ignoring Martha’s unsettling shrug.
My devotion towards the Rabbi had increased daily. I loved him more than life itself. Everything he said to me
was fire to my soul. I felt that I was a favorite of his. If I felt that way, then it was his doing, not mine. I
pondered his sayings long into the nights. It was more than his words. It was his manner too. It was everything
about him: his tender strength, his compassion, his strong but gentle love—mostly, his purity and goodness. He
lit up a room. He lit up the world. He lit up my life.
I have never known anyone with such wisdom and insight. His miracles proved he was from God. He was full
of joy and smiled often. He made people feel accepted and special, no matter who they were. He touched
lepers without a thought for himself. He treated women as equals to men. Sinners enjoyed his company and
found themselves changed just from being with him. Children adored him. The poor, beggars, even the most
odious individuals, were unafraid of him because he treated them like his dearest friends.
Wherever he happened to go, a fragrance of joy and love went with him. I thought that when he stepped into
Simon’s house. Upon seeing his frame in the doorway, I had thought, How can I thank him for what he has
done for us? How can I show him how I feel? What gift could I possibly give him that would be worthy of him?
What do I have worthy for a king—for God’s Anointed?
All at once came the idea to anoint him with my fragrant spikenard. Surely, this would show him how much I
valued him. It would be perfect—a symbolic gesture—wouldn’t it?
I slipped out of Simon’s house and ran to ours to retrieve the keepsake. The idea to anoint him felt like the most
wonderful, perfect expression of honor and love I could ever show him. It was valuable too—given to me by
my father before he died. It was my dowry, to give to a prospective husband. From Persia, it was very costly
perfume.
After eating the meal, the guests lingered at their tables and the musicians put their instruments down. Only the
sound of low conversations hung in the rooms. The banquet was nearly over.
Jesus had not taught or shared stories the whole time. He was simply enjoying himself and the company of
friends. When he stretched and repositioned himself on his pillows, I suddenly worried that he might get up and
leave. The time had come—I must not wait another moment.
With my heart pounding, I left my hiding place and stepped up to where Jesus reclined at the table.
Lazarus looked up at me expectantly. I snapped and broke the seal of the vial. Jesus was caught off-guard, but
he slowly turned to see me. My hand shook nervously while I poured out about a pint of perfume on his head.
As the beautiful, heady aroma filled the room; everyone stopped talking.
I saw his hands folded . . . his eyes closed . . . his gentle face.
As I poured the perfume on his head, I was surprised that he did not stop me. He sat very still and received this
gift of mine. I was so relieved. So glad. I wanted to call him “My King,” but instead, I said it only within my
heart—over and over: My King . . . My King . . . My King . . . all the while slowly pouring the perfume on him.
He looked up at me. His eyes were watery and I wondered if he’d heard my silent praise.
The perfume had begun to run down his forehead, so I wiped a stream away from his eyes. Too much was
already in his hair, soaking and dripping down thick, strands, wetting the back and sides of his head and his
beard. The stream of perfume droplets soaked the neck, back and shoulders of his tunic. Had I overdone it? I
hoped he wouldn’t mind that I’d soaked his whole upper body with the heady, fragrant spikenard.
I saw that I still had some left in my jar, so I removed my veil and bowed low to kiss his feet. On them I poured
out the remaining pint of nard, wiping the excess off with my hair.
After I emptied the jar of its contents and remained bowed at his feet, I wished the moments could have lasted
longer. I did not want to leave him.
He leaned towards me, withdrawing his feet, bending over to me. And then I looked at him. He didn’t say a
word, but his face surely did.
I had truly blessed him.
Judas, from Kerioth . . .
I am outraged by this thing. How can Jesus sit there and allow such a waste? And in such a manner? This is an
indecent show. The perfume could have been sold . . . how many poor might be fed with that much money?
What kind of rabbi is he?
I rebuked her for such waste, and him for allowing it.
Lord Jesus . . .
Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always
have with you. You will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body
beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world,
what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
WONDER JUST A LITTLE
One phrase in Jesus’ response to Mary’s lavish expression of love has affected countless souls throughout the
ages. Listen to Jesus’ response: “You will not always have me. She did what she could.”
Souls in love with Jesus know . . . she did what we wish that we could do. Mary anointed him on behalf of us all.
She expressed to him the love of his Church.
Mary's God-given love anointed the Anointed One with the love that he died for.
This was only the beginning. Mary led the way, showing others how to love the Lord.
Extravagance deserves extravagance. And, Jesus was the most extravagant giver of all.
No wonder what Mary of Bethany did to Lord Jesus has been told all over the world, for two thousand years.
She expressed her deep love for him on behalf of all God’s beloveds! She did it for you. She did it for me!
What a wonderful joy that Providence saw to it that Jesus tasted, at least once during his earthly life, that
extravagant anointing of love he so richly deserved. Just as David and other kings of Israel had been anointed as
kings, so Jesus was anointed king for his kingdom—the Kingdom of Love.
Mary poured great love upon the Beloved. Her love anointed Jesus for burial. Nothing could have been more
appropriate.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
Two people. Two choices. Night and day. Judas and Mary. After reading the Scriptural account of Mary’s
anointing of Jesus, close your eyes and imagine the scene. In your prayerful meditation, take part in that
banquet and see the two in action. How can two people react so differently? What causes us to love or to hate?
What is it about the freedom to choose that cost the Lord so much?
Imagine anointing Jesus. What would you say to him if you could? Try to imagine some of what Mary might
have experienced. What did it mean to Jesus? What does it mean in your relationship with him? How can we
“anoint” him today?
JOURNAL
What creative new way can you express your devotion to Jesus? Write in your journal what you have learned
or experienced from the Scripture reading and your meditation prayer time. Since Jesus is no longer with us in
person (in the flesh), is there any other way to lavish one’s very best on him? What form(s) might that take?
36 – All Is Made Ready
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which
the Passover Lamb had to be sacrificed.
Luke 22:7
A CONTEMPLATIVE VIEW
God and Man at Table are Sat Down
O, welcome all you noble saints of old
As now before your very eyes unfold
The wonders all so long ago foretold
God and man at table are sat down
Elders, martyrs, all are falling down
Prophets, patriarchs are gath'ring 'round
What angels longed to see now man has found
God and man at table are sat down
Who is this who spreads the vict'ry feast?
Who is this who makes our warring cease?
Jesus, risen Savior, Prince of Peace
God and man at table are sat down
Beggars, lame and harlots also here
Repentant publicans are drawing near
Wayward sons come home without a fear
God and man at table are sat down
Here He gives Himself to us, as bread;
Here, as wine, we drink the blood He shed.
Born to die, we eat and live instead!
God and man at table are sat down.
Worship in the presence of the Lord
With joyful songs and hearts in one accord
And let our Host at table be adored
God and man at table are sat down
When at last this earth shall pass away
When Jesus and His Bride are one to stay
The feast of love is just begun that day
God and man at table are sat down*
*Dr. Robert J. Stamps, © l997. Used with permission.
Jesus, before entering the Upper Room . . .
Father, I am about to walk into that room and to a table “prepared before the foundation of the world.” This is
the beginning of the fulfillment of the hope and vision we have carried for so long. At this moment, my heart
overflows with the anticipation of what I am about to do.
All is made ready. Including me.
I have greatly longed to share this time and holy meal with the ones you have given me. I pray not only for these,
but for all who will believe and continue to remember the meaning of this night.
What makes this night different than any other night, my Father?
I have come now to the primary reason for my birth. Father, strengthen me for what lies just ahead. This will be
an eventful night—of light and of shadows—as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
As I open the door to this room, Abba, I pray for not just those here, but for all the hearts that will eternally
open and receive that which I have come to give them. I pray that the world will know that you have sent me
and that all who will believe in me and in my words will pass over from darkness into light, from death into
eternal life. Amen.
WONDER JUST A LITTLE
Who would ever have thought that a single meal could mean so much?
One incredible night mankind sat down at a table with God and, from then on, everything between us became
communion.
That supper between Jesus and his disciples became a pivotal moment of transcendence. It began the Day—
that Day—which became the climax in God’s Story. It became the center of the Universe, a red pinpoint in the
mappings of God’s Creation. It defined the cross. It defined God’s love. It defined us.
That upper room was more than a meeting place. The traditional meal was more than a religious observance
and much, much more than food and wine. From that night on, humanity’s relationship with God would never be
the same.
What was it about that night that changed everything? That special evening closed the book on the Old
Covenant, and opened the New. What had been in the mind of God, at the foundation of the world, when he
planned that sit-down, sacramental supper? That holy, particular meal with twelve ordinary men was beyond
extraordinary. It became the end of the beginning (for those twelve) and the beginning of the end (for their
Master).
Over symbolic food and cups of wine, through the spoken words of the Word of God, the unknowable
Mystery of the person of God bared himself more than ever before.
The faithful Son of Man stepped into that upper room in Jerusalem, on the eve of his death, and made sense of
all the thousands of years God had worked to reveal himself through the traditions of religious worship and
expression. No more blood would ever need to be shed to cover sin. The promised Seed of Eden had come to
be planted in death once and for all.
During that last meal known ever since as The Last Supper, Jesus gave meaning to everything so that we would
at last see him, know him, and receive him—as the very image of God-with-us. And by his sacrifice he would
help us see the measure of his love.
The Passover was a feast that celebrated, in reality, the giving of himself.
He had planned it meticulously way ahead of time. History and tradition paved the way.
What better way could God, who is unseen, make himself so profoundly understood? How else could he
continue to be understood after he laid his life down for us?
Yes, God is so very wise. So very gracious. He finds such creative ways to reveal himself and his love. He is
forever reaching for us and showing us the way to know him. This night was one such way. It became a beacon
of light on a rock in the ocean of our wandering.
God had come to redeem us, and so Jesus entered into the upper room to show us, in both symbol and word,
the truth of our salvation: his life freely and wholly given for us.
At this meal we must all learn to let Jesus serve us. We must permit him to wash our feet, stooping low to show
us how to love, for without him we would never think of anyone but ourselves. We must take from his hands
what he offers us to eat and drink—for it is the reality of his love and life he so freely, so wondrously came to
give us.
As now before your very eyes unfold
The wonders all so long ago foretold
God and man at table are sat down
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
To appreciate the impact of these final hours in Jesus’ life, it is good to realize that they are his last hours as one
of us. At no other time did Jesus disclose himself more fully and clearly to his disciples than during their last
evening together as he bared his heart and soul. He prepared his men for what would come in the near future.
He spoke his most tender words of love and encouragement to them. His parting words would be remembered
and last for their lifetimes, and for ours.
What was the meaning of the Passover meal? What was the meaning of Jesus’ words: “Take and eat, this is my
body . . . Take and drink, this is my blood . . . Do this in memory of me”?
The disciples later understood the happenings of that night and remembered that John the Baptist had called
Jesus “the Lamb of God.”
There is a scarlet thread of atonement being pulled through the fabric of time all the way back from the Garden
of Eden. The first time sin was covered by blood was when God killed an animal and used the skin to cover
Adam and Eve’s shame. Eden was a place of paradise, not only for Adam and Eve, but for all the other
creatures as well. Before disobedience, creation was in harmony, and full of God’s love. There was no “food
chain.” But on the day God covered Adam and Eve’s nakedness, an animal had to die—the first covering for
sin was the beginning of the Scarlet Thread.
Why did God kill an animal to cover them? They were no longer innocent and naked before him. Why did God
command that animals, perfect ones, be sacrificed for sins up until the day of Jesus? Why was a spotless lamb
killed, and its blood applied to the door posts on the first Passover? The blood on the door posts of all the
Hebrew homes is what God used to deliver them from the angel of death in Egypt. Why, ever after that, did the
Jews celebrate Passover each year with a sacrificial lamb and unleavened bread? Why did Jesus die on that
very feast day? Why does it take the blood of Jesus to take away our sins when we believe in him? Do you see
the Scarlet Thread?
We can see Jesus as the redeemer promised by God in the Garden of Eden. We can see the symbolic, spiritual
meaning behind the Hebraic tradition of the Passover. We understand that the Exodus of Israel becomes our
“exodus.” Their journey to the Promised Land is like ours.
The Lamb of God and the Passover Lamb is Jesus. The unleavened bread is Jesus’ body, broken for our
redemption. The cups of blessings—Jesus’ blood poured out for the atonement of our sins. The Passover meal
Jesus had with his disciples was the pivotal moment of God’s salvation, and of his revelation to man.
Can you imagine what may have been in the Lord’s heart as he neared that climactic hour? Close your eyes and
prayerfully imagine Peter and John as they prepare the room and the meal before Jesus and the others enter.
Notice the beautiful table full of elements and symbols where Jesus will so poignantly reveal himself and where
he will break bread and drink wine with his own. Watch Jesus as he steps up to the upper room, as he prays
and prepares himself. What might it have been like to be in that room when Jesus entered? Can you see the
expression on his face? Was he tired? Joyful? Pensive? Can you see the love in his eyes? He held so very much
inside his heart as he entered into the upper room that momentous night.
JOURNAL
Describe in your journal what your thoughts and experiences have been during your prayer time. Write Jesus a
letter in your journal concerning the things you feel. Listen to see if he has anything he wants to reveal to you.
Let your love flow to the Lord. He longs for these times of communion with you.
37 – “This is the New Covenant in My Blood”
Because I live, you also will live.
On that day you will realize that
I am in my Father, and you are in me,
and I am in you.
John 14:19b-20
A CONTEMPLATIVE VIEW
Apostle John . . .
I am leaving, Jesus told us, in many ways, all through the meal. Oh, how he loved us that last night! “My
children,” he said, “I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I
tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.”
His words nearly broke our hearts. He looked at me, sitting beside him, and all I could do was look at him and
shake my head. I was lonely already at the mere thought of his absence. How could we ever do without him?
And he knew how I felt. I could see this by his expression when he looked at me, so full of compassion, so
wise. He seemed to know my heart at any given moment. But he continued on, in an even voice, as though well
rehearsed. I suppose he’d waited a long time to say the next words that fell upon our sorrowful ears.
“A new command I give you: Love one another,” he said, “Just as I have loved you, so you must love one
another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
He said this with great emphasis, and it made me realize how serious this was. This very night was probably our
last time with him!
I drew closer to him and took hold of his arm. I wanted to ask him, “Why? Why must you go?” But Peter
asked a different question before I had the chance.
“Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus didn’t answer right away, but looked down at the table. When he looked up again he said we would all
fall away that very night on account of him, according to Holy Writ. He quoted the prophet Zechariah [13:7],
saying, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”
Disbelieving these stinging words, Peter asked why he couldn’t follow, saying that he would lay down his life for
him.
I ached for Peter when Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before
the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
Jesus shocked us when he said we’d all fall away.
We knew now, without doubt, that Jesus was the Messiah. And we all knew that his kingly destiny was written
about in Scripture. He was meant to restore all things and rule on David’s throne. But he kept insisting that he
would lay down his life.
During the meal, he took in his hands unleavened bread and his cup of wine, saying, “Eat this bread . . . drink
this wine … this bread is my body given for you, for the forgiveness of many. This wine is my blood, shed for
you. This is the new covenant in my blood. Do this in memory of me.”
And we took from him both the bread and wine. He bound us all together with him forever that night, and it
would continue to be our covenant with him.
That night was like no other night in my life. For me, the hardest part was that I couldn’t bear his leaving us.
Like a father knowing he’s dying, Jesus spoke parting words to us: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in
God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am
going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you
to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas reasoned that we didn’t know where he was going, so how could we know the way?
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you
really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough.”
Jesus replied, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who
has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the
Father, and that the Father is in me?”
Never had he spoken so clearly, without figurative speech. We were astonished. Seeing this, he said, “You
believe at last!”
Yes, we believed. He confirmed what I’d wondered but hadn’t dared to dream. He was, in reality, God-with-
us! Our beloved rabbi and friend was God-in-our-midst, laughing with us, surprising and amazing us, speaking
God’s ways to us . . . But now, now he was about to leave us.
Before our meal had ended, I laid my head upon his chest and heard the beating heart of God.
Surely, this is why he came to us—so that we can all, anytime we want, hear and know his heart.
WONDER JUST A LITTLE
So much happened during Jesus’ last supper with his disciples—for the evening was far more than a night of
conversation at a table. In reality, in just a few hours’ time, Jesus had planted everlasting truth into the rich soil
of the human heart—thereby forever establishing his kingdom of heaven.
The kingdom of God is a kingdom within one’s heart. From his lips flowed words that would sustain his
followers until his return. He gave encouragement, promises, revelation about himself, wise and practical
instructions, hope, and specific warnings. He humbly and lovingly served them—showing them how to love and
how to be great. He warned about things to come. Up until this night, all the persecution had fallen upon him;
but afterwards, it would fall on them—for his sake.
Jesus disclosed the full reality to them—that in seeing him they’d seen the Father. How Jesus’ own heart
rejoiced when he saw, at last, that they finally understood. He explained that his own would abide in him—and
didn’t have to strive or worry. Giving tremendous hope to them, Jesus inaugurated the coming of God’s
kingdom, which would continue to come through him and in them. He had come to do more than to establish a
kingdom; he had come to give himself to the world. The Son of God, the disciples were beginning to see, was
the Reward they would all be willing to die for. And the Lord promised that he and his Father would come to
them and abide in them. He would not leave them as orphans; soon, they would know him even more.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
Read the Scriptures listed in this chapter and meditate upon the things that happened that Passover night.
Imagine yourself as an invisible visitor in that room. As the scene unfolds before you, notice the Lord, the room,
the table, the men. Perhaps the disciples were fearful to be in Jerusalem with Jesus, for they must have realized
how dangerous it was to be there with him. And yet, perhaps whenever they were with him, they’d learned not
to be afraid. He’d wondrously and repeatedly proven to them that he could keep them safe.
What is Jesus like when he first begins their Passover meal? What do you see when he takes off his outer
clothing and begins to wash their feet? What do you suppose Jesus was thinking during the time he did this for
them? Is there conversation going on at the table as Jesus goes from one pair of feet to another? Or, do the men
sit in wonder, silent with their own thoughts? How did Jesus look, bowed over their feet, intent on his task,
either sitting or kneeling on the floor, holding their feet in his lap? How is he when he speaks about the kingdom
of heaven and their parts in it? Watch him. Can you imagine his face and gestures as he discloses his most
intimate feelings about how he will “abide” in them and answer their prayers after he is gone? What is his voice
like when he talks about the one who will betray him? Can you see Jesus as he sadly tells Peter that he will deny
knowing him three times before the night ends?
What is Jesus’ body language as he talks about leaving them? Is the meal solemn or, at times, joyful? How do
the disciples react to the things Jesus tells them?
How do the frightened disciples react when Jesus warns them to take a purse and a bag, and to carry a sword?
This was the opposite of how things had been when he sent them out before. What is Jesus’ body language in
response to the two disciples who dash from the table to retrieve their hidden swords for his inspection?
Many things were said and done during the meal. Look for the details. Reflect on the deeper meaning of what
happened. What might the singing of the Psalm, ending their time together, have been like? Who led the singing?
That alone is a thing to contemplate . . . God singing with men before he goes off to die.
How would it have felt to be with Jesus during his last hours on earth as God living among us as a man?
JOURNAL
How do you feel about Jesus after reading this chapter? What insights have you gained? How does that
evening, so many long years ago, affect you today? Ask the Lord to reveal to you what he wants you to know
at this moment. Be open to any ideas, images, words, or thoughts that come. Record these, or describe them, in
your journal. Sit quietly in the Lord’s presence and simply give him your love.
38 – Jesus Prays
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
Father, the time has come . . .
Father, I want those you have given me
to be with me where I am,
and to see my glory . . .
I have made you known to them,
and will continue to make you known in order that
the love you have for me may be in them
and that I myself may be in them.
John 17:1, 24a, 26
A CONTEMPLATIVE VIEW
Apostle James, son of Zebedee . . .
The soft glow of the oil lamp gently lit the face of our Master. We were about to leave the upper room. His
expression was warm and serene when he said, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
After he said this, he looked up toward heaven and prayed. Whenever Jesus prayed out loud in our midst, I
was transported. At those times, it felt as though he took us to heaven with him. I can still hear his beautiful
voice as he prayed that last time with us. Long and heavenly, his words of intercession and communion with his
Father revealed a heart full of hope, vision, and care. First, he prayed to his Father for his own glorification, then
for us, his disciples, and lastly, for all those in the future who would believe in him.
I’ve come to see his prayer at that time as a bridge he was crossing. He was leaving us to cross over to his
Father and return to his heavenly glory. But during that moment of prayer, we stood on that bridge beside him.
We looked into heaven with him.
I know that he always intercedes for his own—and will continue until we all become answers to his prayer. For
he prayed that we who were his would see him in his glory and be there with him. Yes, he prayed that we
would rejoice with him in his glory—I know he prays this still, for those yet to join him.
And he prayed that we would all become one, even as he is one with his Father.
Our hearts had soared during his prayer.
But everything changed suddenly in the darkness of the olive grove. His prayers changed just as drastically. We
could hardly bear to listen.
After listening to his anguished cries, John, Peter and I fell asleep during the long stretch of lonely silence that
followed.
Jesus had asked the three of us to come apart from the others to keep watch with him while he prayed.
We know now that his agonizing prayer in the garden was another bridge: between our damnation and God’s
salvation. This was a bridge we could not bear to share with him. He had thrown himself down upon that
bridge—and he was alone. In our despair, we could not bear to keep watch with him, so we fell asleep.
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he had confided to us as he took us deeper into
the garden so that he could pray more privately. He knew we could hear him. Surely, he knew. And I don’t
know why or how we could have fallen asleep. But in so doing we added disappointment to his terrible grief.
The garden was so dark. Gloom and despair hung heavily in the air all around us. We were there hiding from
the authorities, or so I thought. But Jesus wasn’t hiding—he was waiting. He knew his betrayer would lead the
rulers and soldiers to arrest him in the garden, as he knew the rest of us would desert him—and scatter to
safety. That is why he brought us to the garden, away from the upper room. If we had stayed there, surely, we
would have been arrested with him.
“Are you asleep?” Jesus sadly asked us, not once, but three times, each time stepping away from his prayer-
bridge to check on us. He wanted us to be near him. He didn’t want to be alone.
What good were we to him? I don’t know. As a man, he needed us. As God, he knew the terror that faced
him. We didn’t know—so we left him there alone on that terrifying bridge.
Finally, Jesus’ prayer ended, and he crossed the bridge. “Not my will, but your will be done.”
WONDER JUST A LITTLE
How wonderful that Jesus’ prayer in the upper room was remembered and recorded so that we could “hear” it.
It gives us faith and hope. Surely, it is our glimpse into not only our Lord’s heart, but into heaven. When Jesus
prayed this prayer, he was looking beyond his death and resurrection to the time when he would be in heaven,
in his glory.
Jesus’ prayer was drastically different when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane. There we see him, in his
humanness, calling out to his Father, overwhelmed with dread.
Had the darkness of evil descended upon him? Was the devil torturing him? Was he overwhelmed because he
realized all that was about to happen to him?
God the Father sent an angel to strengthen him. But Jesus was beyond the angel’s help, for he prayed more
earnestly and began to sweat blood. What does this show us? It means that Jesus, who had lived his entire life
in obedience to his Father, was being asked to do something he didn’t want to do. Jesus, human being, full of
life, wanted to live! It is what we all want.
But Jesus had come to die a terrible death by crucifixion. He was the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of
the world. His mission was to show God’s love, to give everything he had, for our salvation. Jesus loved his
Father, but humanly he certainly did not want to face terrible pain and shame and death.
Truly, this is where Jesus surrendered himself to the Cross. It happened here in the darkened garden just as
much as on the rocky hill called Golgotha. To die to self is to “take up one’s cross.” It is the choice to live for
God and not for oneself. It was in this, the final surrender, that Jesus learned obedience.
God learning obedience? Yes, even to the point of death.
All this he did to save us. All this to prove his love for us. He would rather die for each one of us than live
without us. And here we see him make that terrifying, costly choice.
In the Garden of Eden, Satan tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God. They chose to do what they wanted,
and not what God wanted. They brought death and sin upon themselves and all their offspring when they said
“no” to God and “yes” to themselves.
In this second Garden, Jesus redeemed their sin—and all sins committed since then by those who put their trust
in him. He said “no” to himself and “yes” to his Father. “Not what I want, but what you want to be done,” Jesus
said.
And in that prayer, Jesus surrendered himself. He crossed the bridge that would take him from life to death—
for us.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
Jesus’ two different prayer times are covered in this chapter: 1) Jesus’ beautifully graceful, high priestly prayer
with his disciples in the upper room after the Last Supper; 2) Jesus’ prayer and agony in the Garden of
Gethsemane. Pay close attention to what stirs your heart the most. It is an art to learn to recognize and respond
to these personal Holy Spirit stirrings. If you are drawn to both prayers, you may wish to meditate upon both.
1. Meditation for Jesus’ Prayer in the Upper Room:
You may wish to read the entire account of the Last Supper before reading and meditating upon his closing and
final prayer with his disciples. The account sets the stage for how Jesus’ heart must have felt. Pay close attention
to this part of the prayer: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through
their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us
so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they
may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world
know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want ________ (put your
first name here), who you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you gave
me.”
Now, imagine seeing Jesus in his glory. Yes, cross that bridge in prayer as he did, to see yourself in the future.
Let this vision be all God wants for you, right at this moment.
2. Meditation for Jesus’ Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane:
Suppose you were able to go to the Garden of Gethsemane and support Jesus during his travail. What would
you say to him? Here’s your chance. Imagine the scene. Don’t be afraid to be yourself with him. Imagine you
have an angel escort, as you space-and-time travel. You and the angel walk past the three sleeping disciples.
Next, you come upon Jesus. The angel introduces you to him as someone from the future, and that is all he says
to the Lord about you. Then the angel leaves you alone with Jesus. By the light of the moon, you look upon
each other’s faces. Time for Jesus stands still; time for you is to be with him at this moment. Imagine what would
happen. If given this chance, what would you say to him?
JOURNAL
Record in your journal about this time of meditation and what thoughts or ideas ministered to you. Prayerfully
listen to the Lord with a ready pen. What is on his heart that he wishes to reveal to you? What do you wish to
say to him? End by sitting for a few minutes, quiet and attentive to his loving presence.
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| God with Us |
