We have begun our journey toward the cross with Jesus and are now in the Garden as He begins to suffer under our sins. Overwhelmed with "sorrow to the point of death" (Mt. 26:38) Jesus falls on His face and begins to plead with God to save Him from the horrendous experience of receiving the world's sins (1 Jn. 2:2)
Notice the difference between his first and second prayers. There is something very important about a relationship with God and obedience here.
In Jesus first prayer, He has just begun to suffer as our Substitute. He feels Himself suffocating in our sins, and in desperation He cries out, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup (the cup of judgment for sin) be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (v. 39)
In the suddenness of his overwhelming suffering, He could think only about escape. He calls out for rescue and help. Yet throughout His life He had trained Himself to always do His Father's will.
After this prayer (and Matthew only summarizes; it must have gone on a long time), I am sure Jesus waited breathlessly for an answer. But none came. The heavens were silent.
Perhaps He mentally reviewed all He knew about the Suffering Messiah prophecies. Was there another way? Had He missed something? No, the Messiah was going to suffer and die (Isa. 53; Zech. 13:7; Ps. 22). He had already explained this to His disciples (Mt. 16:21, 17:22, 26:28).
Like Abraham, when God asked him to sacrifice his promised son, Isaac, and then prayed and waited for a rescinding command, Jesus must have hoped, and listened, and waited. As in Abraham's story, would God provide a substitute? But the voice did not speak, because Jesus was the Substitute. He was the reality toward which that ram pointed. No hand stopped the sword of Justice now. Only the truth of Scripture pointed out His path and duty.
So we notice a difference in the second prayer. He had heard no celestial caveat, no divine loophole. So His prayer is a prayer of relinquishment, a plea of trusting commitment. "If it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done" (v. 42). In the first prayer, Jesus struggles and cries for escape, yet commits to God's will. In the second He realizes there is no other way but His death, and He surrenders to His Father's will.
It is the same battle we each face with temptation and obedience. And Jesus experienced it on our behalf to earn the right to help us. Listen! "During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him" (Heb. 5:7-9). (Italics mine)
Praise God, Jesus can help us because He already went through what we do in this life. "For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God" (Heb. 2:17). He "was tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. . .so we can approach the throne of grace with confidence, "receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Heb. 5:15, 16).
That is why we must look to Jesus for inspiration and help: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: 'My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves. . .'" (Heb. 12:2-6).
Deciding now to trust Jesus and do nothing but God's will, will save us from the consequences of sin, which is separation and death. As we see in Jesus' Passion, this is not easy, but it is the only path to peace. And Heaven will help us. An angel came to help Jesus (Luke 22:43), and God will help us too.
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