Mysteries In the Garden (Part 3)

It is not coincidence that Jesus chose three men out of the twelve that night in the garden. His three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, each have a character trait that resembles atonement of the body, soul, and spirit.

Peter represented emotional atonement, James bodily and atonement, and John spiritual atonement.

Let's look at Peter first.  He continually needed a healing of emotions.  Before Peter received the Holy Spirit, he was brash, arrogant, and self centered.  Peter rebuked Christ for saying He was going to die In Jerusalem.  He was adamant that he would never deny Him, but had little confidence that others would follow his strong stance. To prove his loyalty the free swinging Peter took out his sword and whacked off the ear of the High Priest's servant. Hours later, however, his burning passion turned cold when he denied the Lord three times. To prove his point, he even cursed. Peter was emotionally unstable at times. Peter is a picture of one who loves Chrit but is on an emotional roller coaster and needs stability.

James, the second person in this inner circle, gives the details of the physical or bodily atonement. James gives the details of what a person should do when they are sick.  “Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your faults to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much. ‭‭James‬ ‭5:14-16‬ ‭MEV‬‬ This passage deals more with physical healing than spiritual healing.  Notice how confessing your faults to one another is connected to physical healing.

The third disciple was John.  John's gospel gives the clearest message on the suffering of Christ and His redeeming work on the cross,  We usually direct new converts to the gospel of John for this very reason.  John stood at the foot of the cross while the others were hiding in fear.  He focused on the spiritual atonement of mankind.

Jesus completed a three fold of atonement for mankind from the whipping post to the cross.  The stripes in His back were for my physical healing.  The crown of thorns on His head were for my mental and emotional well being. His death on the cross brought a death blow to sin and brought eternal life to my spirit.