The Poiema Life

I think everyone has heard of The Last Supper. It’s the last dinner Jesus had with His disciples before picking up His cross and carrying it to the Skull – Golgotha. This crucifixion is what gave us our salvation, and I learned this past year how hard Jesus struggled with this.

In Matthew 26:38-39 it says, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus asked His disciples to help keep watch and when He returned from praying, He found them asleep. He asked Peter to keep watch, Jesus went back, and prayed again, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” Jesus returned to the disciples and found them still sleeping. As you can imagine, the theme continues. He left for the third time, prayed the same prayer, returned, and the disciples were, of course, sleeping. Jesus begins to talk to His disciples when, Judas – a disciple that betrays Jesus – arrives with an army to arrest Him.

Jesus definitely has the power to call on God for this to stop. I mean, He’s Jesus, He can do anything He wants, but He says in v. 53-54 “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

Fast forward to the chapter of Luke 22:42-44, Jesus prays again on the Mount of Olives, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.“

Let that sink in. Jesus prayed the same prayer over and over. Always saying God’s will be done, but He was also so anxious about dying that His sweat was drops of blood. Drops of blood. Yet, He knew what He had to do and He did it willingly, obediently, and graciously.

The thing about His prayer is something applicable to our own lives. We will struggle. We will have times of sorrow, depression, heartbreak, spiritual emptiness, and devastation. We’re not promised a perfectly happy life because we do live in a broken world. But, God’s will is always for our good and His glory; Including the hard times. It’s ok to struggle. It’s ok to be broken. Jesus struggled, but He put His trust in our Father and stepped out in faith.

I think that’s something we all struggle with; Stepping out into faith. It’s the unknown and it’s giving up control. It’s scary. It could be outwardly sharing your faith to others who may judge you. Maybe it’s breaking up with your significant other because you know the relationship isn’t glorifying God. What about moving to a new city where you’re all alone? Or, going after a dream you’ve had. It could feel like you’re signing your death certificate, but when God slowly reveals His plan to you, it’s life altering.

Aren’t you glad that God told Jesus, “No. I won’t take this cup from you,” and aren’t you glad Jesus so obediently stepped out into faith? Think about that.

One thing we can learn from this is how generous, kind, and strong our Jesus is. You’re loved by a man who is pursing you, loving you unconditionally, fighting for you, defending you, providing for you, rescuing you, shepherding you, and much more.

This man could’ve let you drown in your brokenness, but instead He runs after you so you’ll drown in His precious, redemptive blood.