Thursday in The Week of The 5th Sunday in Lent (04/02/09)

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

--Hebrews 5:7

Okay, I can accept the prayers and supplications. People fire those off -- or offer them up, to use the language of our text -- all the time. We have written prayers, memorized prayers, formulaic prayers, ritualistic prayers, table prayers, prayers individual and corporate, and prayers at certain times of day. There are prayer groups and prayer "warriors" and prayer teams and prayer chains and prayer beads and prayer cloths

But when "loud cries and tears" are thrown into the mix, that gets a bit too close to our comfort zone. Quick to spot phoniness, we might think it to be choreographed sentimentality. Prayer accompanied by "loud cries and tears" might suggest that the person praying is some sort of crazed fanatic.

Jesus Christ was -- and is! -- as real as it gets. He is not a figment of pious imagination. His intent was not to impress people with His fervency. He is far more than merely a fine example of godliness. He is the Savior of the world who agonized over His mission down the depths of His being.

I find it startling that He prayed as He did because He loved us so.

PD