Essay: In The Garden by, The Rev. Dr. James A. Lee

Do you love gardens or gardening? There is something about gardens that bring a particular sense of nature directly into ones life. The color, smell and shapes that plants and flowers give to the essence of love it-self. Jesus went to the garden and experience a lot more than the ambiance of flowers.

Jesus went to the garden at night to pray. He went alone, but asked that his disciples to wait and be prayerful and alert..

Jesus prayed so hard and was in such agony that He sweat blood. The weight of the burden of mankind was awesome. Jesus was tempted in the garden as well.

Yet god's will was the order of the night and Jesus submitted to the will of God. We too must pray and submit to god all of our sins in Christ Jesus.

Yes the garden can be a wonderful experience with nature. However, what Jesus did on the cross can never be forgotten in the life of the believer. god raised Jesus from the grave and Jesus will return to Earth with all power humor and glory.

The garden is a place to submit to the will of God. We go to the garden in prayer. Unlike the disciples who fell asleep. We must do as Jesus said," pray and be alert.' You know not the time nor the hour when Jesus will enter our garden. I pray that we are indeed ready.

Praise God for Song The Joy of Jeus Church

I Come To The Garden Alone Hymn
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

Refrain

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

Refrain

I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

Refrain

The Joy of Jesus Church marks Holy Week

Jesus prays while the *disciples sleep
We have seen that Jesus had many difficulties to deal with at this time. Both he and the *disciples were probably very tired by the time of the last supper [that is, Jesus' last meal with his *disciples]. We see this when we read about the behaviour of the *disciples in Gethsemane. They were actually very tired. They had no more energy at all. Jesus fell down on the ground and prayed. He was suffering very much. He really desired his friends to stay awake with him at this time. It was the hardest time for him. But the *disciples could not stay awake. They slept on the ground.

Jesus had done so much more than they had done. He was probably even more tired than them. But his hardest time of all was still to come.

Jesus suffers greatly
Jesus suffered very much in Gethsemane (Mark 14:50, Luke 22:54-62). Luke tells us that *drops of blood fell from Jesus' body. This was a crisis for Jesus. Jesus had always obeyed God his Father. And Jesus still wanted to obey God. But now this meant the *cross with its great pain and shame.

But, for Jesus, the *cross was not merely a place of pain and death. Jesus was perfect; he never *sinned. But on the *cross, Jesus would have to take, on himself, the *sin of the world. He would have wanted to avoid this especially, but he could not. Here is his prayer:

Matthew 26:39 'My Father, if it is possible, do not let this happen. However, I want to do the things that you desire. I choose not to do the things that I desire.'

But there was no other way. The *cross was the only way that God could forgive our *sin. Jesus was the only one who could pay for all our *sin. Only Jesus could give us the power to live like him.

Judas kisses Jesus
After he had prayed, Jesus knew what must happen. Calmly Jesus walked out so that the soldiers could arrest him. Judas had arrived, with soldiers and priests. Judas went to Jesus and kissed him. Jesus refused to let his friends fight for him. Instead, he allowed his enemies to take him.

The *disciples were very afraid. They left Jesus and ran away. Only Peter and John tried to stay near Jesus. And only John would be present at the *crucifixion.

Prayer: Dear God in Heaven, Christ Jesus The Son and The Power of The Holy Spirit, We pray for all things in Christ Jesus.

We pray for all people to do The Will of God.

We pray that people will give to The Joy of Jesus.

We Praise Gos for Holy Week.
In Jesus Name...

By The Rev. Dr. James A. Lee

The Joy of Jesus is The Holy (Week) Spirit

When everything seems to go wrong who can you trust and why? This question strikes at the heart of all trouble we see people falling into today.

Everyday we see our so called celebraties having major problems in their relationships. fighting over homes, money and children. Have you ever wonder why?

Before they crucified Jesus on the cross for our sins, He promise that there would be another to come and comfort us in His resurrection. The Holy Spirit of all truth.

Peter spoke to a crowd a such a strong wind appeared and everyone began to praise God together in their own language, yet everyone present could understand the other as well.

The Joy of Jesus is The Holy Spirit of all truth. It will solve all problems. It will lead, guide and direct you to the light of God on Christ Jesus.

Let us pray for The Power of The Holy Spirit to touch our hearts and souls to move in the light of The Lord. The Holy Spirit will do as God intended it to do. We praise God for the gift of The holy spirit in Jesus name.

Prayer Time at The Joy of Jesus

Prayer: Eternal God of all creation, Christ Jesus the son, and The Holy Spirit of God in Christ Jesus, we humble ourselves in Thy love and grace.

We pray for all people around the world to have faith in Thee.
We pray for all people in need.
We pray for peace around the world.
We pray for the children to grow and know Thy mercy.

We thank Thee Lord for all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.

Lord we magnify Thy Name. We Glorify Thee and Praise Thee.

In Jesus name we pray...

Prayer

Praise God for Holy Week The Joy of Jesus

Lord we pray that the Holy Spirit will move all soul to the grace, love and joy of Jesus. Bless all of our followers in the name of Jesus we pray.