Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:38-39).
Jesus’ anguish had nothing to do with the fear of man, nor for that matter the brutal pain of the capital punishment of a Roman cross. His sorrow came upon Him as the hours drew near of taking upon Himself the full cup of divine wrath against the sins of man. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand (Isaiah 53:10). Though the Servant Christ didn’t deserve to die, it was the Lord’s will for Him to do so. The price for our debt was high, but Jesus paid it in full, His cry of anguish is for us to know that it’s bitterness He endured was so that we would not have to. Not as I will, but as You will – This does not mean there was conflict between the Persons of the Godhead. Rather, it graphically reveals how Christ in His humanity voluntarily surrendered His will to the will of the Father in all things, even if it meant being seperated from His Father, as a holy God cannot look upon sin, even if it is His own Son. That’s the good news of the gospel, Christ paid the punishment for our sins even though Himself was without sin, and was separated from His Father, for a time that we know through the Scripture “When He ascended on high, He led capitivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” Now this, “He ascended” what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all heavens, that He might fill all things (Ephesians 4:8-10).
Dear friend, The Lord Jesus is our Savior and King. Who willingly went to the cross for us to set us free, He will return for us, until then, He asks us to deny ourself take up our cross and follow Him. With the help of the Holy Spirit we can do all of His will.
May the Lord bless your walk
