The Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:26,32-42)

As we continue our Lenten journey through the 24 Hours That Changed the World, we come to one of the darkest places in the gospels, the Garden of Gethsemane.  In today's reading we are given a glimpse into the humanity of Christ, and we hear the very private prayer of Jesus to God the Father.  It's a moment that we can all relate to, the feeling of helplessness, that the world is pressing down upon us.  Yet Jesus caps off his prayer with a demonstration of his own faithful obedience to the will of God, when he says "Yet not what I want, but what you want."  It's a very telling moment, and one which we, as followers of Christ, can use to grow even closer to the nature of Christ.

Recorded at Hudson UMC on February 21, 2016 (portions also recorded at Ebenezer UMC)

I should point out that this recording was made on a day when we had a baptism and there were tons of kids running around.  As a pastor, I'm OK with that.  They're making a joyful noise to the Lord!