Week 7
Matthew 26:42 “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
The Garden of Gethsemane represents the deepest and darkest moments in Jesus’ life along with the cross itself. In those fateful hours immediately preceding His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus faced, contemplated, and struggled with the great issues at stake. Soon He would be physically tortured, beaten, abused, and killed. But the greatest pain and sorrow of all would be what He endured in His righteous soul: He would become on the cross the sacrifice for sin for believers throughout history, purchasing our atonement, our forgiveness, and our justification before holy God the Father.
Let there be no further consideration about whether or not the cross was necessary for the salvation of sinners. Jesus asked the Father specifically and directly: “If there is another way, please let this pass.” But there was no other way! There was no other means by which the Savior could do the hard work of saving sinners except through His suffering, death, and shed blood on the cross.
Note how Jesus sweetly and firmly acquiesces to the Father’s redemptive will: “Your will be done.” These words are flavored with love and seasoned with sacrifice. Jesus was willing to bite into the suffering of the cross for the sake of His beloved people. He was willing to endure the agony of the cross for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2).
Christian friend, let us read these words and find in them reason to never doubt God’s love for us. The Bible says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).” Sorrowing and suffering Christian friend, look at the cross, take a fresh peak at your suffering Savior, and see once again God’s great love for you. God in love chose you before the foundation of the world; God’s great love sent Jesus to the cross to purchase your salvation. This is the demonstration of the extent to which God will go to save you, to keep you, to take care of you, and to make you His own. Nothing and no one can take God’s love away from you (See Romans 8:35-39).
Jesus did the hard work in the Garden before He did the hard work on the cross. He was willing to endure, He was willing to overcome, and He was willing to die for you. Let us fight well the battles we face, and as we do so, let us cast a grateful eye to the Garden of Gethsemane and see our Savior praying and struggling for us. Let us be encouraged to know that the God who did that for us, will be with us for the rest of our lives.
Dear Lord, please help me to realize how loving and committed You were to my salvation that You endured such pain for me. Thank You for Your love for me! Thank You for the cross of Jesus. Help me to live my life joyfully remembering Christ’s death and love for me. Amen.