Jesus' greatest challenge during his earthly existence was to remove the false identity from his spirit. In this error, man believes that he gives in order to receive, without realizing that everything he gives he himself has previously taken. Conversion therefore means changing the inner state from which the wrong action comes.
The three and a half years of Jesus' ministry were coming to an end. He had taught, healed and delivered. Now the time had come to fulfill the main work for which he was sent by his Father. This was to be at the same time as the first festival of the year - the Passover. The night after the eating of the Passover lamb, which brought deliverance to the children of Israel in Egypt and initiated the exodus from captivity the next morning, was the night on which Jesus was captured and crucified the following day.
In the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14: 32-34), the question arises: Why was Jesus grieved to the point of death? Did he not agree with the will of the Father? What was the meaning of the cup from which he wanted to be freed? What was this inner struggle about? What made him suffer so much that he sweated blood? To understand Gethsemane, we must recognize that the human problem is internal. This event is decisive for our redemption. Something had to happen in Jesus' mind in order to be able to face the battle ahead without doubt and fear.
A comparison between Gethsemane and the Garden of Eden shows us: Adam doubted God - an attitude that is only possible if you exalt yourself as God. In order to free man from this self-deception, superhuman strength and a struggle were required in which the human spirit had to go to its limits. Jesus had to overcome the error in himself. His victory consisted in recognizing that he and his Father are one.
We too must go through our own Gethsemane and gain a conviction in the mind that overcomes the power of error through faith. We need this victory before the final battle. May we, like Jesus, complete this inner battle victoriously and never give in to doubt or fear. These themes are central aspects of the eleventh reflection in the Gospel of Mark.
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