Text: Matthew 26:36-46, Philippians 2:8
While the image of Jesus hanging on the cross is truly agonizing, it is somehow the account of the Garden of Gethsemane that grieves me deepest. It is here, with Jesus on His hands and knees, weeping and pleading with God, that I feel the fullness of His humanity and the depth of His sacrifice. It is in this garden that I feel the weight of His suffering at my hands.
He made His way into the garden, away from the disciples, and He prayed, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39; NIV)
It’s hard for us to wrap our believing hearts around Jesus asking to be spared the Cross–the very purpose of His existence. But He puts an asterisk on His very human request by declaring His obedience at any cost.
Throughout the Old Testament, “the cup” is used as a metaphor for God’s judgment and His wrath, as in Isaiah 51:17: “You have drunk the cup of the Lord’s fury. You have drunk the cup of terror, tipping out its last drops.” (NIV) So when Jesus prays about avoiding the cup, He’s fully aware of what He is about to do by going to the cross: He is drinking the cup of God’s wrath. Yes, He’s taking on the physical agony of the cross, but He is also taking on the spiritual agony of separation from His loving father. And that separation is the pain that is breaking Him down in the garden.
But without missing a beat, He prays on.
“Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
And this is where I am convicted for all the times I complain about my own “suffering” in this life.
“Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
And this is where I am made keenly aware of my foolish attempts to build my own plans for my life.
“Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
And this is where I stop rushing through the Lenten season to get to the glorious celebration on Easter morning. The garden is where I pause to hear His sobs and His prayers. It’s where I see that cup we poured so violently spilling over. And it’s where I thank Him for His willingness to drink every last drop of it. For me.
Today I was reading the crucifixion story from the Jesus story book Bible to my kids. It said, " Jesus could have spoken a word and made it all stop, but you see, it was not the nails holding Jesus to that cross, it was LOVE."
I think of all the times we complain that God doesn't answer our prayers and yet, even He could not grant Jesus's request, although I'm sure He wanted to. There was no other way. This was the redemption plan. We all need to remember that God does hear, and even if it's not the answer we want, His way IS perfect.
And this is where I stop rushing…The garden is where I pause…It’s where I see…And it’s where I thank Him…
So good! I want to take it all in and let what Jesus did, and why, fill me and change me.
Struggling sibling I can’t say I truly understand what you are going through but I know what it’s like to feel dry and empty inside. I’m still dealing with some issues but something on the inside ( the Holy Spirit) won’t allow me to let go! I pray God will show you his all powerful love. Not just the Love he showed when he sent his son to die for you but his everyday, even when you think he’s not there or listening love! My days aren’t always bright but I know who made those days and that brightens them. Hold on SS… I am!!!!
Yet not as I will, but as You will Lord. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. When I am at my weakest, God is at His strongest. When I am emptied by the sorrows & storms of my life, God stands ready with an overflowing reservoir of love, strength, forgiveness, compassion, energy, grace, and hope. Enough to fill me up again, enough to share with everyone. Even those who hurt me. I pray Lord, not my feeble human will but Your incredible will.
I liked the comment about hi much Jesus suffered and we didn’t have to. We complain about such measely little things. and Jesus was forsaken so we didn’t have to be. I was listening to Nancy Leigh DuMoss and she had a speaker on yesterday and today who was really good. She said if all Jesus did was die, He could have come to Earth as a man and died, but He lived out a whole life so He could live out righteousness for us because we wouldn’t be able to. That was so powerful to me.
I am humbled and in awe that Jesus did all of this horrible suffering for us! Yet at the same time, as a parent who would die for her kids, how must God our Father felt asking His only begotten Son to DIE for a bunch of unknown sinners??? In excruciating pain, beaten, stones thrown at Him, all by and for the same people that His Father asked Him to save!? My heart breaks for God up above, bearing witness to His SON’s pain! How bittersweet to have your Son ask “please Father? No? Then not as I will, but as You will..”
God the FATHER.
That God loved us THAT MUCH.
I’ve never looked at it from this perspective before!
It makes my heart ache and break that much more. I am truly wrecked.
I’m sorry the disciples let Him down. How that must have hurt Him AND His Father! I’m sorry I’ve let Him down. The Lord’s forgiveness of us is miraculous! My hope is to not ever take it for granted the pain and sacrifice done for me, that I will be the obedient daughter He so deserves.
In Jesus’ Holy name I pray,
and in God our Father I trust!
I am intrigued by the differences in the cups offered that fateful night. At the last supper, Jesus offered His body and his blood, to take eat in his memory. He gave us his still Holy and perfect body as the bread, and the wine as a sign of his blood to be shed for us.
And then the Garden, where he pleads with his father to take this cup from him – this cup of Gods wrath and seperation. Sin…and anguish for one without sin.
My Saviour gave us his all, and took on my sins because he loves us. All for love. Obedient towards his father because of love. Sent because of love.And died because of love. How can we not Love Him? I am so unworthy of this love, and yet he says I am not.
What an intriguing devotional. Thinking about the immense nature of what the sacrifice meant Jesus still said yes, but not only yes but "Not my will but thy will be done". What a difficult statement but one that we all must say in order for the Lord to be glorified in our lives, not our Will but His.
I encourage myself along with all of you to remember Jesus' sacrifice and to never forget what it cost Him and what we all gained from it.. Eternal Life and that more abundantly.
I Love HIM!