There is a Snake in my Garden: Matthew 26:36-50

 Greetings,

When we think about a garden, we envision a lush green landscape inhabited by vegetables, fruits, herbs, and various beautiful plants and trees. Have you ever thought about what creatures may be living in the Garden and their role in balancing the Garden? Everything in life is about balance. Balance creates the tension needed for all inhabitants to thrive as a single unit. So, would you expect to find a snake in a garden? And if so, why or why not?

The Bible speaks about a Garden, the Garden of Gethsemane, described as full of beautiful Olive trees, making it a great place to seek solitude. As a reminder, The Garden of Gethsemane (setting) is where Jesus sought solitude and rest with the urgent cry of asking His eleven disciples (characters) to stay alert and pray before his betrayal by Judas. 

Some might conclude that Judas was a snake. One can analyze a garden as we would a story. 

A story has these elements: characters, setting, plot, conflict, point of view, and theme. Comparatively, so does a garden. 

Would you expect something so sinister as a betrayal (dark) to occur in a place of solitude and rest(light)? But that happened; Judas, one of the twelve disciples, agreed to betray Jesus (plot) for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). Matthew also records that thirty pieces of silver are the price of an enslaved person (Exodus 21:32). 

Judas wanted to betray Jesus because Judas, as treasurer, believed that this position in Jesus' new government would guarantee his status. However, he soon realized Jesus' Kingdom was not physical or political but spiritual, and his assumed status for money did not fit in Jesus' Kingdom (read thoroughly Matthew 26:6-13).

Although Judas' treachery in the Garden, his betrayal is the conflict that will bring the disciple's denial of Jesus and subsequent arrest. Without Judas' betrayal of Jesus, the crucifixion death, and resurrection of Jesus would not have happened. 

The Garden story needed Judas (theme). God used the greedy character of Judas to betray Jesus. Take a moment and think about your Garden story, have there been snakes in your Garden that have helped you become the person you are today? A garden with vegetables, fruits, herbs, and various beautiful plants and trees also needs snakes (point of view). Reminder, some snakes are harmful, and others are not. 

                                               Do you know the difference?

Scripture records several occasions individuals and groups were betrayed. The tragedies caused by these violations of trust are a powerful lesson about the importance of keeping our commitments.

Delilah betrayed Sampson to the Philistines-Judges 16:16-21.

Absalom betrayed David, his father-2 Samuel 15:10-16.

Jehu betrayed Joram and killed him-2 Kings 9:14-27.

Officials betrayed Joash and killed him-2 Kings 12:20-21.

Judas betrayed Jesus-Matthew 26:46-56.

Committed to God,

Minister Sylvia Joyner

                                            Garden of Gethsemane

Look Again!!!! Proverbs 24:19-21

19 Do not worry when evildoers go unpunished

    or be jealous when the wicked seem to prosper.

20 Evil people will have no future;

    the life of the wicked will be snuffed out like a candle.

21 My son, fear both the Eternal and His anointed ruler.

    It is not wise to associate with those rebelling against them.

The concept of looking again is an admonishment to the reader that echoes similar statements of Proverbs 24:19-21 in the book of Proverbs, which warns against associating with immoral people. As pointed out by this passage, some of those dangers warn of becoming jealous of the wicked's success but instead continue to fear the Lord, which has a more splendid future (Proverbs 23:17–18). 

The reader must also guard against forming close alliances with famous individuals or crowd-pleasers. Close friendships or other unprosperous relationships bring risk and temptation (Proverbs 1:10–15; 13:20). We can't be friendly with sin and expect our lives to remain unaffected. Without a doubt, wise individuals recognize (Proverbs 1:7) that God's goodness is far more valuable than temporary earthly wealth. They also remember that the company we keep influences our morals and causes our faith to waiver (1 Corinthians 15:33).

A further reminder of the importance of looking again is the words found in Psalm 36:1 says, the transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes (KJV). Sin's effect produces no fear of God, and barriers to corruption are non-existent. Sinners plunge face first as if their sinning has no consequences. Noteworthy is that God is not blind and is giving them time to repent and turn from their sinful ways before announcing punishment. More significantly, this knowledge of fearing God should be a determinant of not sinning but embracing God's gratitude and mercy.

I pray that each remembers all that glitters is not always gold.

Eternally Submitted,

Minister Sylvia Joyner