NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE

Gethsemane, a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives, is the place where Jesus and his disciples went after their supper together.  

Jesus told the disciples to sit there while he went and prayed.  He took with him Peter, James, and John and was very sorrowful and downhearted.  He told them, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me." (Matthew 26:38 KJV)

The Bible goes on to say that he went a little farther, and fell on his face and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."  (Matthew 26:39 KJV)

The gospel of Luke says that an angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him.  It also said he was in agony and prayed so earnestly and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

He came again to his disciples and found them asleep again and he left them and went away to pray the third time.  After that he came to his disciples and told them to "Sleep on now; and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me." (Matthew 26:46, 47 KJV)

While he was speaking, Judas came and along with him were many with swords from the chief priests and elders of the people.  The sign was to be a kiss.  So Judas came to Jesus and said, "Hail master" and kissed him.  Then they came and put held Jesus and took him.  Jesus went willingly.

When I read these passages, my heart cries from the sadness of that dark, dark hour.   Oh, so many, opposites are displayed.  You have a beautiful place of peace....then it becomes an angry sinful place of betrayal.  You have a loving master.....yet sleepy disciples.  You have a willing heart for the Father's will.....yet you have the human-ness of the desire of "if it be possible, let this cup pass from me".  Then you have the surrender and love of the one true Jesus who says, "not my will, but thine."  It fills my heart again and again that Jesus did all this for ME....for YOU....for us ALL!

Consider....