Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday

A Holy Week message from Pastor Gary Gaddini.

It’s a tale as old as time…Two gardens, Eden and Gethsemane, provided the settings for two choices that brought opposite results. The Bible wildly contrasts these choices. In fact, we face them today.

In the Garden of Eden, Adam’s decision to disobey God’s will brought condemnation to everyone. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ’s decision to submit to God’s will and to die for all the sins of humanity made available justification to everyone.

Adam never would have eaten the fruit had he known the consequences to humanity. But he couldn’t see the results. All he had was God’s Word and the invitation to trust God’s heart.  

I’ve never been to the Garden of Eden, but I have been in Gethsemane three times. 

I’ll never forget standing in Gethsemane for the first time. An insight came to me as I turned around and saw the walls of Jerusalem so close behind Gethsemane. Jesus easily could have seen the soldiers and their torches coming to arrest Him. 

In fact, He said, “Here comes my betrayer!” (Matthew 26:46).

He could see those who would lead Him to death approaching, but still He chose to stay in the garden out of obedience to the Father—and out of love for us. 

As Isaac Watt’s When I Survey the Wondrous Cross puts it, “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all!”

Every day, we walk in the gardens of decision. The two choices in two gardens give us pause to consider our own decisions and their ripple effect through our legacy:

Like Adam in the Garden of Eden, we can dishonor God’s Word and doubt God’s heart for us in favor of what we think or feel—and live with overwhelming regret. 

Like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, we can trust God’s Word, even when it costs us dearly, knowing that obedience to our Father is worth everything.

I’m not sure what faces you reading this Weekly G, but may you be encouraged today to learn from our second Adam (Jesus) and choose obedience to God’s word—no matter what the cost and even when it makes no sense. 

We have two gardens as proof that faithfulness is worth it.

I love being your pastor!

Pastor Gary Gaddini, Lead Pastor

Maundy Thursday Reading

In an article written by N.T. Wright, read more here about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, based on Mark 14.

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