We are familiar with the story. Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying. He knows He is about to go through the most horrible event in all of known history. What happens in Gethsemane simply defines the word “epic.” It is horrible. The stress on Jesus is beyond measure. “Life” Himself is looking death in the face. And He doesn’t even have to be there. This is a volunteer effort.
How did Jesus make it through this time? How did he move forward into that night and next day on the cross to do the most heroic, the most powerful work ever? He surrendered His will to the Father. Plain and simple – He did what he did not want to do, because His Dad asked Him to do it.
Yet, in giving up His own rights and desires, He soon accomplished an incomprehensibly powerful gain of eternal significance; the redemption of our lives from sin and death. In giving up, He gained the platform for pouring out His Great Love on humanity.
What an incredible lesson for us. We are all under authority, and God may ask us to do horribly, terrifyingly seemingly non-sensical things that we can’t even comprehend doing for His purpose… But, the One we serve is entirely Good! If God wants to crush us, will we let Him? Will we trust that anything we do in obedience to Him always has a positive return in His eternal economy?
Thanks Jesus. Thanks for showing us that there is no end to the goodness that comes from endless obedience to The Father! May we daily fall on our face and say: “not as I will, but as YOU will.” May we trust the infinite provision of Your Grace in all our situations.
Not a whole lot of “grey” here is there? God is infinite. He may be subtle, but He surely doesn’t do things half-way. Mind-boggling? Yeah. But, reader, it is more sure than gravity. Jesus is worth everything. May we give it all up to Him today. Let us allow this Easter weekend to be the moment where the overwhelming victory of the Cross is applied to our lives now and forever.
Love and Blessings, scot
Matthew 26:36-46
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
