Overwhelmed
Reference Scripture: Matthew 26:6-27:50
Everyone is a bit overwhelmed right now. Life just keeps happening and despite best efforts, all is not well! Many individuals are facing their own personal overwhelming situations: cancer, divorce, death of loved ones, uncertain employment, looming retirement, injury, financial hardships, fires, floods, loss of all material possessions, and the list is absolutely e-n-d-l-e-s-s!
Was Jesus ever overwhelmed? Oh my gosh, YES!!! The week leading up to HIs death is exhibit A for the unending pressure He was subjected to. Let’s take a quick look and put on our “sanctified imaginations” and place ourselves in Jesus sandals for just a few minutes.
*Jesus was anointed by Mary of Bethany. Even good things can add to the pressure. Here an expression of love signals the preparation of His death and burial.
*Judas is in cahoots with the Sanhedrin
*Jesus enters Jerusalem being hailed as King by the same people who will cry out for His blood in just a few days! REALLY?
*The Passover is the last one to be needed and Jesus is the Lamb of sacrifice.
*Gethsemane: pleas for plan B, pleas for strength, a laying down of will
A Kiss of betrayal
Catching a lopped off ear and healing a soldier who will help crucify HIm
A “mob” of soldiers and temple guards sent to overpower Jesus
His Disciples abandon Him in fear
*A mock trial with trumped up charges
*A brutal scourging
*A painful trek uphill carrying a cross
*Stripped naked
*Nails pounded into His precious flesh
*Mocking of the soldiers, crowds, and and fellow death-row inmates
*The gambling for His prized possession-a garment lovingly made by His mother
*Relinquishing His mother to care of another, not a family member
*HIS FATHER TURNS AWAY
*IT IS TOO MUCH! HE CAN TAKE NO MORE! HE CAN DO NO MORE!
*He cries out completing the final prophesy of His earthly life found in Psalm 22:
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
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.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
Yes, our Savior knows being overwhelmed. Yet, He TRUSTED His Father!
When I am kasah (Hebrew for overwhelmed): flooded, inundated, overcome, overpowered, swamped, engulfed, powerless, and weak, I will TRUST in the LORD. No, it is not easy. Yes, it is hard to remember unless we rehearse (state over and over) all the pastimes the LORD has been faithful. This is why the LORD set up all the Feasts. Feasts and celebrations were to be reminders of God’s unfailing, faithfulness to His people. In this world we will have trouble, but we can be of good cheer (trusting) for Jesus has overcome the world. (John 16:33) Whatever is going on, God is still working!
Unfinished by Mandisa (Watch the testimony and then listen to the lyrics of this song and be encouraged in your overwhelmed state!)
Treading in the overwhelming flood,
Mandisa Unfinished
https://youtu.be/Ejycllx5iwA Mandisa
See post dated 11/2/15 Fear Not Being Overwhelmed
