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.
The Arnold Journey 