Not as I will, but as You will
“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.” Mt 26:39 NKJV.
“If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me.“ What cup was our Lord Jesus Christ talking about in his prayer? The cup is the pain and torture of death on the cross. Jesus Christ is 100% God in the spirit; also he is 100% man in the flesh. So he is going to feel the pain and go through the torture of the cross. His being God cannot take away the pain. Understanding this will help us feel his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Death on the cross is a slow and horrible death. God, according to His Divine plan of salvation for mankind, will not allow the cup to pass over His Son, “For the wages of sin [is] death…” Ro 6:23. Man’s sin must be punished, and God has chosen His Son to bear the punishment. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Ro 5:8
“Not as I will, but as You will.” God the Son had to submit to the will of God the Father. This is Obedience. “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Hb 5:8. NKJV. Jesus Christ knew his mission on earth was to come and save mankind from sin; and because of this he must go to the cross. Still, that did not make it easy. A few days earlier, Jesus said, “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.” Jn 12:27. Death on the cross was a difficult destiny for Jesus, yet because he is always obedient to His Father, he submitted himself to it.
As we partake of the communion today, and every other time, let us remember the agonizing prayers of our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane. Let us remember his ultimate obedience to the will of the Father. Let us also remember the pain and torture he went through on the cross for the redemption of our souls.
Prayer:
Father God we thank you, for the love you have for us in sacrificing your only Son, Jesus Christ on the cross. Help us O Lord to love you with all our hearts and to be always obedient to you, even as our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
