Perhaps one of the most human moments that we see Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is there he goes to pray. He knew what was coming. Read back a few chapters and you’ll see Him predicting His death multiple times. And then there was The Last Supper, where he tells his disciples that one will betray him. He knew what was coming.
In the Garden, Jesus tells his disciples to pray with Him – “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me” (Matthew 26:38).
And then Jesus walks off to be alone with the Father and we can hear the sorrow in His words as He asks to not have to suffer what was coming. He asks “if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” – our glimpse of humanity, as we ask to be spared painful sufferings every day of our lives. Yet Jesus continues “nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” A total surrender because He knew that the Father had it all under control.
A quick reading might suggest that Jesus was trying to avoid the physical suffering of the cross. There may be some degree of truth to that, for it was the most cruel and painful way to die in those days. But Jesus knew that the suffering would be so much greater – He was going to take on the full wrath of God as payment for our sins. And that wrath would separate Him from His Father, a spiritual suffering so much greater than the physical.
Yet, He was willing – “not as I will, but as you will.” May we be always be thankful for His willingness.
And oh, that that might be my attitude and prayer about all things. I’m slowly learning – and then relearning - just what it means to surrender those things I like to hold onto so tightly, so deluded that a tight grasp will give me control. Life doesn’t look as I thought it would some years back - still “not as I will, but as you will.”
Moments after this scene, Judas arrives with soldiers and kisses Jesus, his way of identifying Him, betraying Him for silver coins that were equal to a month’s wages. And Jesus goes off with the soldiers obediently. He knew what was coming and He didn’t fight it.
‘Christ’s response to Judas wasn’t assign of weakness. It was love. Love for Judas. Love for the Father.
And in His love, He honored His Father, just as He had promised in Gethsemane.
And in His love – not just for Judas, and not only for the Father, but for us – He was led to His trial. And He was sentenced to death. And his blood covers my betrayals and yours. It covers the times we’ve chosen a month’s wages over honoring the One we call Lord. It covers the times we push Him aside to further ourselves.
Your betrayals and mine. His blood covers it all. And he calls us “friend.”’
(From SheReadsTruth, Holy Week-Day 4)
May we look at those who have hurt us or betrayed us and respond as Jesus did. May we be obedient to the One who endured the cross for us.
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