Sometimes
reality hits us square in the face. And we have a couple of choices in that
moment: we can accept the reality or we can move into fantasy land. Fantasy
land often looks like a adolescent temper tantrum, but performed by adults. It
isn’t a pretty sight. This especially true when it is done by someone who is
supposed to be leading.
We
see how to accept reality when it comes knocking in our text today. Jesus has
been struggling with the reality that one of His closest friends is going to
betray Him. And as a result of that betrayal, He will be brutally killed. He
knows this is THE center of God’s will, but it is still a struggle. Facing the
physical pain would be bad enough, but Jesus also faced separation from the
Father for the first time. Double ouch!
He
has been praying, and His disciples can’t even stay away and keep guard. It
seems as though they are failing at the simplest tasks given. How are they ever
going to spread the Good News around the world? When it really matters, they
can’t be depended upon to come through.
Jesus
finishes His time of prayer and returns to find them asleep again. He wakes
them, rebukes them and lets them know the ride is about to begin.
Have
you ever been on a roller coaster and been greeted by all those warning signs
as you walked the entrance line? No pregnant women, no heart conditions, no
back problems, no short people, no really heavy people. You entered the line
because you wanted what the ride was going to offer. You knew it would flip you
and twist you, and you wanted it. You chose not to exit right before sitting in
the seat and having the bar lower into your lap. You said “Yes” to the thrill.
Jesus
has been telling His disciples that the next moment would be coming. He put out
the warning signs. If they had been paying attention, they would know what to
expect. And Jesus at that moment announces that the start time clock has
reached 0:00. The ride will begin.
The
first turn in their ride is the arrival of the betrayer, Judas. This is that
first hill that must be climbed. It is hard to believe how steep it is. It
seems to climb straight into the sky. Surely the car will fall off the track.
Surely Jesus will speak something and stop the process. Surely the angels will
intervene. Surely He will give the signal to pull out the one sword and use it.
But
Jesus faces the reality head on. He doesn’t waiver. He looks straight toward
the Cross and embraces the life that will follow, both His life which could
never be taken away, and our life which could never be gained.
Some
realities in life are very hard to accept. Probably the biggest is death. Or
perhaps the dying process is more difficult than the end result of death. We
almost never get to die exactly when and where we want to die. For most of us
that would be never and nowhere. We want to stay alive, at least as long as our
body and mind cooperate with us.
But
when our bodies and minds begin to fail us, then some of the reality of our own
decline and death hit us in the face. What do we do in those moments? Do we put
our head back in the sand and ignore the reality? Or do we embrace the reality
and adjust our life to make the most of it? I hope we do the adjusting.