We can prepare ourselves spiritually, emotionally, and physically for what lies ahead as much as humanly possible when we know hard circumstances are looming on the horizon.  The surgery that we must have, that bill with the ballooning balance that must be paid on time, that child who leaves for college, or a parent who is reaching a time when they can no longer live alone.  These are just a few of the many things in life that we can prepare for to some extent with limitations without knowing the realty of how it will be resolved. Do we pray, not what I want, but what do you want, Lord?  

Jesus falls on his knees in the garden that night of nights to talk with His Father, one more time as His Son on earth. Jesus knows the betrayer will soon come.  Try to imagine the heaviness that overwhelms Jesus as the Son of God who knows what He is about to endure as Messiah—The One who will saves us.  Jesus He goes over the mission three times with His Father, until that “time had come” for Him to fulfill what Scripture foretold centuries earlier. Jesus must face alone what God has sent Him to do.

Isaiah one of the prophets, inspired by God, describes what Jesus will do to pay our sin-debt.  A once and for all sacrifice must be made in payment for our sins so that all who believe in God, repent in Jesus Name, can be reconciled, (reconnected), to God in a holy, intimate, loving relationship with God.  God loved.  God provided a plan.  Jesus was the Plan.  Jesus loved us.  Jesus carried out the Plan.

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray,each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer… Isaiah 53:1-10

Jesus knew what was about to happen.  It wasn’t the darkness of night.  It wasn’t fear of the Judas bringing a legion of soldiers. The “suffocating darkness” was caused by all the sins of the world being laid, one by one, upon His Body until they become such an overwhelming burden that it brings Jesus slumping to His knees.  The weight of our sins must be carried to the cross and be nailed there through Jesus body.  Is Jesus beginning to feel the death that sin causes looming within Him?  Or is it what God must do while our sins are being carried by Jesus?

Jesus cries out, “Take this cup away from me.” But in the same breath, “But please, not what I want—what do you want?”  Jesus, Son of God, knew the answer, but had to ask as Son of Man. 

As the sins of the world are placed upon Jesus, God must turn his face away from Him until “it is finished,” the most devasting pain of all to God’s Son; all because God cannot be where sin resides. 

Jesus is now ready to pay the price.  Alone.

Mark 14, The Message

Gethsemane

^32-34 They came to an area called Gethsemane. Jesus told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him. He sank into a pit of suffocating darkness. He told them, “I feel bad enough right now to die. Stay here and keep vigil with me.”

^35-36 Going a little ahead, he fell to the ground and prayed for a way out: “Papa, Father, you can—can’t you?—get me out of this. Take this cup away from me. But please, not what I want—what do you want?”

^37-38 He came back and found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, you went to sleep on me? Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don’t enter the danger zone without even knowing it. Don’t be naive. Part of you is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.”

^39-40 He then went back and prayed the same prayer. Returning, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn’t keep their eyes open, and they didn’t have a plausible excuse.

^41-42 He came back a third time and said, “Are you going to sleep all night? No—you’ve slept long enough. Time’s up. The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up. Let’s get going. My betrayer has arrived.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Believe, repent of all sins, and be saved for eternity. 

God’s gift of salvation is free for the asking.  Jesus has truly paid it all. 

There is no sin too great that cannot be forgiven once and for all eternity.

What are we waiting, longing, and preparing for in life right now?  Are we praying, “God what do YOU want?”  He will answer.

Lord,

Thank you for these thoughts that create an even greater sense of gratitude for all you have done for me and everyone else who asks for your gift of salvation!  Nothing on earth is greater than your forgiveness.  No one compares to your compassion, love, mercy and grace.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking my sins to the cross.  You did what we cannot do for ourselves.  You, dear Jesus, made a way for us to talk with God with nothing standing between us.  What a Savior!  What a love you have for us!

In Jesus Name, Amen