Translate

Showing posts with label fulfillment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fulfillment. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

The Garden of Eden and the Garden of Gethsemane in the Gospel of John


When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, Whom do you seek? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them, I am he. Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, I am he, they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, Whom do you seek? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go. This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one. Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me? (John 18:1-11 ESV)

John picks up themes from the fall and includes them in his gospel to show the relationship to the fall of man in the first Adam and the restoration of humanity in the New Adam:

The first Adam began life in a garden; the second came to end his life in a garden.
In Eden Adam sinned; in Gethsemane the Savior overcame sin.
In Eden Adam fell; in Gethsemane Jesus conquered.
In Eden Adam hid himself because of sin; In Gethsemane Jesus presented himself because of sin.
In Eden the Sword was draw; in Gethsemane the sword was sheathed.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Jesus, The True and Better Moses

I saw that I had missed the words so here they are!


Moses

A hundred-twenty years the friend
Of God! Heart flaming to the end.
And in the crystal eyes a fire
From what he'd seen of God's Desire.
An unabated strength of soul
Had kept his mind and body whole.
O, how he longed to lift his rod
Once more and watch the arm of God
Slice Jordan like a liquid snake
And make the serpent's tail a lake
And lead the tribes dry through the slice
Back to the promised paradise!

Could God appoint a man to guide
His people while the warriors died,
To stand and suffer their distrust,
And when for golden calves they lust
To intercede with God and spare
For them annihilation there?
Could God assign an athlete this:
To run for others, then to miss
The prize? Would he require a maid
To bring to birth what God had laid
Within her womb and while she smiled
Forbid that she should have the child?
Atop Mount Pisgah Moses sat
And for a moment thought like that.
The Jordan slithered far below
And did its best to overthrow
His faith: "Where has your life been poured?
It doesn't pay to serve the Lord.
He fills your life with many a hurt
And in the end treats you like dirt."
Then Moses took up the attack
And all the truth he wrote came back:
"Ah, wicked river, stay your hand
'Tis you, not God, that stole the land
From my inheritance on earth.
Had I not doubted his grand worth
'Tis I, not Joshua, who'd break
Your twisted back and gladly make
Your trail a bridge to paradise.
And do you think that your advice
For me has any weight as though
For any real estate I'd throw
Away my God? Think you, O fool,
That all my life's a vestibule
To that?" And Moses waved his hand
The full length of the promised land.
"Don't you recall that I have seen
The glory of the Lord? Between
Me and my hope the day I die
Lies not the river but the sky."
And then, his eyes still crystal bright,
Old Moses vanished in the Light.

God grant that we the same might see
As we light advent candle three.


"Moses," by John Piper. ©2014 Desiring God Foundation. desiringGod.org. Performed by Jaleesa McCreary.