I HEARD THE BELLS!

Friday, December 13, 2019

I HEARD THE BELLS!

Matt 26:37-38

37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Luke 22:44-45

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

           In this Gethsemane scene we are able to see the damaging effects of sadness and grief upon both the Savior and His disciples. Not long ago they had shared the paschal meal and Jesus had instituted the Lord’s Supper which prefigures His agony and sacrifice for sinners. They had sung an hymn and departed to the Mount of Olives.

           Now, in the cool of that ancient grove of olive trees the full weight of impending violence descends upon them like a pall. Jesus tells the three closest to him that he feels his sadness may well nigh kill him. Luke, the physician, describes it in medical terms saying that the burden produced such pressure as to cause the skin to exude great drops of bloody sweat. Sorrow kept Jesus from resting or sleeping. The outcome of the struggle was just too urgent.

           The majority of the disciples Jesus had left to rest but Peter, James and John he told to watch or to keep awake. Jesus himself went a little farther and when he returned he found them asleep “for sorrow.” Their grief had put them to sleep. It is strange that distress of mind would cause one to be fully and painfully awake while the others could find no relief except in sleep.

           In Acts chapter 12 Peter was in prison waiting for execution and his distress was so great that the angel “smote him on the side” in order to wake him up. The chains fell off and, in verse 11, Peter “came to himself” in a back alley behind the prison. Grief and distress had knocked him out! He had slept through his own miracle!

           During America’s Civil War, Henry W. Longfellow penned the words to “I heard the bells on Christmas Day.” In this classic hymn, Longfellow acknowledges the frustration and depression that often accompanies the glitter and glamour of the season. The fourth stanza talks of his despair but he finishes with triumph of the spirit.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along the unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head

"There is no peace on earth," I said,

"For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail

With peace on earth, good will to men."

           It is a great encouragement to know that God is not disgusted with our periods of depression. He does not blame us for our fainting and moves quickly to our aid.

Ps 22:24

24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

Dear Lord, thank you for always showing up on time. Thank you for understanding our troubled hearts in these troubled times. Thank you for the triumph of our spirits by your own Spirit. AMEN