Sunday 22 May, 2016

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives. His disciples followed him. 40 When they reached the place, Jesus spoke. “Pray that you won’t fall into sin when you are tempted,” he said to them. 41 Then he went a short distance away from them. There he got down on his knees and prayed. 42 He said, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup of suffering away from me. But do what you want, not what I want.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to Jesus and gave him strength. 44 Because he was very sad and troubled, he prayed even harder. His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 After that, he got up from prayer and went back to the disciples. He found them sleeping. They were worn out because they were very sad. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up! Pray that you won’t fall into sin when you are tempted.”

In this time of extreme anguish, when Jesus knew what he would suffer in order to be obedient to His Father, He still chose to do it. As humans we focus on the physical pain He suffered, but I believe that for Jesus separation from His Father would be the most extreme suffering for Him. We cannot fully comprehend what that is like. His love for us is so self-sacrificial. We need to ponder that anew and never take it for granted. Then we will not lose “our first love” for him.

Secondly, in the midst of all that was happening to him Jesus was urging the disciples to pray that they would not fall into temptation. Despite the suffering He was facing He was still teaching and looking after his followers first.

Jesus thank you, thank you, thank you. Help me to make choices of obedience, not convenience.

Written by Megan Cornell