There are times in all our lives when we face problem-solving dilemmas.  These dilemmas most often occur as we arrive at a crossroads of decision making that tests our resolve and faith. It is like stepping into the rushing waters of a river of problems that have been plaguing us for a long time and now the time comes when we must forge ahead, through the high waters, to resolve these problems whether anyone goes with us or not.

We know that God is leading, but we want to verify before entering dangerous territory.  We realize that we must stand firm as we rise up against the enemy of the problem. We want to make sure this is what God wants before we make the leap into the unknown with His light shining as we go to a dark place we have never been before. 

It is not a lack of trust in God but a slight wondering about our own strength and abilities to handle what lies ahead. So, we pray, asking God for His “ever present help in times of trouble” as the Psalmist teaches. (Psalm 46) We soon discover that God goes before us, is behind us, and is with us.  He is the God of angel armies and is always by our side.  Whom then, shall we fear?

Then there’s our Savior’s agonizing prayer, which goes beyond what our human minds can grasp. 

Luke 22, The Message

A Dark Night

^39-40 Leaving there, he went, as he so often did, to Mount Olives. The disciples followed him. When they arrived at the place, he said, “Pray that you don’t give in to temptation.”

^41-44 He pulled away from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, remove this cup from me. But please, not what I want. What do you want?” At once an angel from heaven was at his side, strengthening him. He prayed on all the harder. Sweat, wrung from him like drops of blood, poured off his face.

^45-46 He got up from prayer, went back to the disciples and found them asleep, drugged by grief. He said, “What business do you have sleeping? Get up. Pray so you won’t give in to temptation.”

^47-48 No sooner were the words out of his mouth than a crowd showed up, Judas, the one from the Twelve, in the lead. He came right up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said, “Judas, you would betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

^49-50 When those with him saw what was happening, they said, “Master, shall we fight?” One of them took a swing at the Chief Priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.

⁵¹ Jesus said, “Let them be. Even in this.” Then, touching the servant’s ear, he healed him.

^52-53 Jesus spoke to those who had come—high priests, Temple police, religion leaders: “What is this, jumping me with swords and clubs as if I were a dangerous criminal? Day after day I’ve been with you in the Temple and you’ve not so much as lifted a hand against me. But do it your way—it’s a dark night, a dark hour.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“Pray so you won’t give in to temptation.”

Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives to pray. His followers tagged along as He asked. Jesus warns and advises them to pray so they won’t give in to temptation but they fall asleep instead.  Jesus also realizes the enemy is there in the garden, ready for his schemes through Judas to be accomplished. 

Jesus talks things over with the Father who sent Him to earth to accomplish God’s Plan of salvation.  Jesus is going over the details of what He alone must do. As he prays for God’s will to be done in the ways God has planned and foretold over the ages, Jesus asks, “but what do you want?” Jesus knows the answer.  God knows He knows.  So, our compassionate God responds to the Son of Man’s need and sends an angel to strengthen Jesus.  God is there with Him in the garden and attends to the agony of our Lord!  This powerful strength and encouragement from God, the Father caused Jesus to pray all the harder through blood, sweat and tears.

The Cup

The cup Jesus is referring to is the cup of suffering on the Passover Table that signifies the coming of the Messiah, “the one who will save us.”  Jesus is the Messiah.  Jesus is the One God’s people have been waiting for!Jesus knew that He alone must drink this cup of sacrifice as the Messiah who has come to redeem the world from sin. 

Jesus came out of eternity knowing that the cross was at the end of the road, for He knew that He was coming as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. As a man, He left Galilee and went to Jerusalem with determined “face set” on walking this road, never wavering or faltering. (Luke 9:51)

But now He had come to the end of the road, and there stood that ghastly thing of death. Jesus knew that He not only was called to die a physical death, but more importantly, was also required to die a spiritual death. Spiritual death meant separation from God, the ultimate sacrifice for this divine man who had never known sin. THIS is what caused the agony of crying out to God, His Father.

Jesus went to hell and back for us!

Jesus knew that He was required to take on the sin of mankind, which required separation from His Father and a descent into the depths of hell. This prompted the question from Jesus the Son of God to ask, “Lord, if there is any other way, take this cup from me.” However, Jesus knew that there was no other way. He alone was the way, and His mission was clear. He was to conquer death and pay the penalty so that all of mankind could be reunited with God.

As the two or three or four hours of fervent, agonizing prayer passed, His resolve strengthened by God’s angel, He got up ready to do God’s will to save mankind.  Our human minds cannot comprehend the immensity of His task and His sacrifice. We simply know that it was to save us and that Jesus’ suffering is the most blessed influence the world has ever known. 

Believe and be saved for eternity.  The price for salvation has been paid in full!

Interesting to note:

It is noteworthy that Jesus could have merely taken a 15-minute walk eastward, over the top of the mountain, and vanished into the Judean desert. Yet He chose not to flee, but to stay and be captured, tried, tortured, humiliated, and crucified on our behalf.

Believe, repent of sins that have been paid in full.  Be saved for forever! 

Sometimes, when faced with doubt we ask, why? It is the love of God for us that sent Jesus to defeat death and rise again to life with hope of eternity.  It is God’s desire that no one perish.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

THE GARDEN

Jesus, the Last Adam, obeyed the Father in a garden and conquered Adam’s sin (Romans 5:12–21).  The human race started in a garden. The first Adam sinned in a garden and was condemned to living by the sweat of his brow (Genesis 3:19). Jesus suffered His agony in a garden. He was crucified near a garden and buried in a garden (John 19:41). Paradise will be a garden.  And, Jesus is coming back, you know…

Lord,

There are not enough words to tell you how grateful I am that you came to save us by removing the sin that separates us from you.  The agony you endured is beyond my thinking and humbles my worthiness.  So, I will live gratefully today as I meditate on all you have provided all because of your great love. May your love expand and grow every believer so the world may know you, too! Help us to love like you love us.

In Jesus Name, Amen