The Will of the Father
When we think about Easter it isn’t hard to quickly take our minds to the crucifixion and the agony Jesus Christ endured that day. When I think about the horror and pain of His death, the severity of sin is heightened even more in my heart as I try to comprehend the massive weight and consequences of my sin. Jesus was sinless. The death he died, the penalty he paid, and the pain He endured were not justly due to Him, but to us.
We who have believed in Jesus—that He is the Christ, died, was raised from the dead, and have confessed Him as Lord—have had our sin atoned for, hallelujah! But the weight of the cross still sits heavy on me. Jesus did what we could not, and His resolve to go through with this work should be an encouragement to all believers.
In Matthew 26:39 Jesus prays in preparation for this, the greatest moment in history. Jesus says, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus prays because He was talking to His Father in heaven, the first person of the Trinity. He is doing what He has called us to do, make our prayers and requests known to God (Philippians 4:6). The incarnation of Jesus Christ meant He was both fully God and man. His deity was unable to sin and disobey the Father who sent Him for this reason (1 John 4:14), but there is no doubt that Jesus’ humanity was not looking forward to the anguish of the crucifixion, so He prays and calls out to God.
So what is here for us to learn? The lesson Jesus teaches us in the garden is one of faith, trust, willingness, and steadfast resolve to walk in God’s plan and not resist it. Jesus walked the most difficult of circumstances, being crucified for the sins of others. But this was the will of the Father (John 6:38), and a necessary step in God’s plan of redemption.
We don’t always know the reason why things happen, and we can be overwhelmed at the thought of what is ahead, but Jesus shows us with the example of His life to trust the Lord. May we pray like Jesus did and give our situations into the hands of God. May He increase our faith to walk His plan and know that He is in control and may His will be done in our lives.
This week we encourage you to share your prayer requests with our church family and worship with us in an attitude of reflection and reverence for the cross. Click the buttons below to see the prayer wall or listen to our Holy Week playlist.
