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We are all facing the challenge to do our will
over God’s
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There’s always temptation to fulfill the carnal
instead of the spiritual and we are to always guard against this
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Constantly ,there’s a battle to live for temporal
pleasure over a purpose-filled life
Vs 26-31: We see the importance of persisting in prayer. Initially,
when Christ started praying,he was weak and discouraged.Yet,amid that,he kept
praying for God’s will.Do we,when we cannot bear no longer,even consider God’s
will?The third time he prayed and came forth ready to meet the betrayer (vs 46).
It is only in communing with God that the soul is strengthened. Sometimes,
we need not speak much. Jesus used to
wrestle with God for hours;having all-night prayers.But this time around He was
so weak yet He continued to pray. Here we learn that,regardless of how many
words we can utter,prayer is important.
vs 38: Jesus faced sorrow while on earth;so He is acquainted with our sorrows.Sorrows do not mean destitute of God's Spirit.
Vs 50 : Here we see the importance of yielding to God’s
will. If Jesus was not open to God’s will,He would have resisted or called
Judas a traitor. So, being open to God’s will keeps us focused and makes us
realize the battle is not ours nor vengeance ours.Hence the calm reaction.In fact, we see this in all the martyrs of the gospel.
Vs 52-54:We still see the importance of understanding God’s
will for our lives. Had Jesus not been prepared for what was about to befall
Him,He would have been resistant or even encouraged His companion to fight;yet
we see Him letting God’s will be done in His life- yielding His will to God’s,letting
God direct His path.
Question is: Am I willing to be led by God? Am I willing to
let Him direct my paths,even if it means I’m uncomfortable? Can I point out
areas in my life where I can clearly say I’m doing this because God’s word says
so or “it is written”?
We also learn that being in line with God’s will does not
necessarily mean comfort—often, it calls for persecution.
Vs 56:Jesus was deserted for doing His Father’s will or
fulfilling His mission.Here we learn that,even those closer to us and who may
be walking in the narrow with us may not understand God’s will for our
lives,such that we may find ourselves alone. Even so, God is with us.
Question to consider:
What made Jesus sorrowful?
"Feeling
how terrible is the wrath of God against transgression,He exclaims,”My soul is
exceeding sorrowful,even unto death.”-DA,p685
Consider the following statements:
"The human
heart longs for sympathy in suffering. This longing
Christ felt to the very
depths of His being. In
the supreme agony of His soul He
came to His disciples with a yearning desire to hear some words of
comfort from those whom He had so often blessed
and comforted, and
shielded in sorrow and distress.
The One who had always had words of sympathy
for them was now suffering superhuman agony,
and He longed to know that they were praying
for Him and for themselves."-DA,p687
The Spirit is willing but the flesh weak:
“Rising
with painful effort, He staggered to the place
where He had left His companions. But He "findeth
them asleep." Had He found them praying, He
would have been relieved.
Had they been seeking
refuge in God, that satanic
agencies might not prevail over
them, He would have been comforted
by their steadfast faith. But they had not heeded the
repeated warning, "Watch and pray." At first
they had been much troubled to see their Master,
usually so calm and dignified, wrestling with a sorrow
that was beyond comprehension. They had prayed as they
heard the strong cries of
the sufferer. They did
not intend to forsake their Lord, but they seemed
paralyzed by a stupor
which they might have
shaken off if they had continued pleading with God.
They did not realize the necessity of watchfulness
and earnest prayer in order to
withstand temptation."-DA,p688
Thankful for the final decision Christ made!!!
“Three
times has He uttered that prayer. Three times has humanity shrunk from the
last, crowning sacrifice. But now the history of the human race comes up before
the world's Redeemer. He sees that the transgressors of the law, if left to themselves,
must perish. He sees the helplessness of man. He sees the power of sin. The
woes and lamentations of a doomed world rise before Him. He beholds its impending
fate, and His decision is made. He will save man at any cost to Himself. He
accepts His baptism of
blood,
that through Him perishing millions may gain everlasting life. He has left the
courts of heaven, where all is purity, happiness, and glory, to save the one
lost sheep, the one world that has fallen by transgression. And He will not
turn from His mission. He will become the propitiation of a race that has willed
to sin. His prayer now breathes only submission: "If this cup may not pass
away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done." –DA,p692,693
Never alone;always with the Father:
The disciples were terrified as they saw Jesus
permit Himself to be taken and bound. They were offended that He should suffer
this humiliation to Himself and them. They could not understand His conduct,
and they blamed Him for submitting to the mob. In their indignation and fear,
Peter proposed that they save themselves. Following this suggestion, "they
all forsook Him, and fled." But Christ had foretold this desertion,
"Behold," He had said, "the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that
ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone: and yet
I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." John 16:32. –DA,p697
