Darker Times

Matthew 26:47-50
⁴⁷ And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 

⁴⁸ Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

⁴⁹ And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 

⁵⁰ And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near, when my life is almost gone, here my cry hear my call hold my hand lest I fall, take my hand precious Lord lead me on.

When the Darkness appears, and the night draws near, and the day is past and gone, at the river where I stand, guide my feet, hold my hand, take my hand precious Lord lead me home. 

Thomas A. Dorsey

 How Jesus Responds to Darker Times

1. The COMPOSURE Jesus is DEMONSTRATED

If you can keep your head when all about you
are losing theirs and blaming it on you; …
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too: …
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build’em up with worn-out tools;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings- -nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling 

2.  The CONFIDENCE Jesus is ILLUSTRATED

Matthew 26:53-54
⁵³ Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

Matthew 26:55-56
⁵⁵ In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. 

⁵⁶ But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.

3. The COMPASSION Jesus ADVOCATES For Us 

John 18:7-8
⁷ Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. ⁸ Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

4. The CHARACTER Jesus OBLIGATED to Us

Matthew 26:9
⁹ that the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.