"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...' he went away a second time and prayed, 'my Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless i drink it, may your will be done.'"
matthew 26:39,42
i think we (and by we, i mean i) tend to put a sugar coating on the crucifixion of Jesus. we get this idea in our head that because it was Jesus who faced betrayal, suffering, death on a cross, and separation from God the Father, that it was easier for him because he is Jesus, the son of God. therefore he has immeasurable strength and power and ability to endure. the reality is that Jesus agonized that evening in the garden of gethsemane. He struggled. He wrestled with God. He knew what was coming and He wanted out. Jesus experienced a collision of his will against God's. in fact, Jesus asked the Father to take the cup from Him.
Jesus didn't make excuses like moses, or run away from God like jonah did. despite the agony and his request for a "plan B", Jesus was willing to go through with what he knew was the only way. in matthew's account of Jesus in the garden of gethsemane, Jesus prays to God three times. the first time he asks for the cup to be taken from him, though of course willing to follow God's willing. the next two times, he tells the Father that he will drink the cup. God's will be done.
what if Jesus had made an excuse? what if Jesus came up with his own plan of salvation for the world, a plan B? his disobedience to his Father would certainly have a consequence that would effect you and me. we would have no hope. we would face death and pay the price of our sins.
God has a plan and a will for each of us - part of a giant plan for His kingdom. what if we always make excuses? what if we always come up with another way, our plan B? who will pay the consequence of that disobedience? i don't think it would only have an effect on us. i dare to think that it effects even the people that God wants to use us to serve.
Jesus suffered beyond what any of us can imagine. He endured pain beyond what any of us will ever be asked to endure. Jesus agonized and yet he did it obediently, all for love.
all for love a Father gave
for only love could make a way
all for love heaven cried
for love was crucified
oh, how many times have i broken Your heart
but still You forgive, if only i ask
and how many times have You heard me pray
drawn near to me
everything i need is You
my beginning, my forever
everything i need is You
let me sing all for love
i will join the angel song
ever holy is the Lord
King of Glory, King of all
all for love a Savior prayed
Abba Father have your way
though they know not what they do
let the cross draw man to you
('all for love', hillsong)
Jesus, thank you for enduring the agony of the cross. thank you for loving to the point of obedience, even to death. thank you for suffering for my sins. through your example, show me how to be obedient to God's will, that i may not make excuses or other plans. let me sing, all for love.
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