We read how the night before His crucifixion, Jesus went to the garden. As a Man of flesh, filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus was sinless, and full of knowledge about what the next few days would bring to Him. Do you suppose He thought, “Why should I have to do this? I’ve lived pure.”
We don’t know, but we have to acknowledge that He was tempted in all points, in all areas of life, just like we are. Yet. There was no sin. But there was the understanding in Jesus’ mind that came from the prophecies. He was going to be beaten so badly that He wouldn’t look human when they were finished tearing His flesh from bone. He knew that the execution by crucifixion would bring pain beyond anything He could bear as He fought for breath. He knew, He KNEW. That men would sit and gamble for His clothes while blood ran down His face from the thorns they would put in His head. Jesus knew that He would be humiliated and spit on. And for what? For walking out of that garden into the troops that would come after Him to offer Himself as a sacrifice for the very ones who would ask that Barabbas be spared instead.
So, “as He was accustomed”, Jesus went to the Father. John 10::15 tells us that Jesus knew the Father as the Father knew Him. Intimately, in a familial way. And Jesus prayed. He prayed again. “If there’s any way, let this cup pass from me….” the humanity of Jesus was demonstrated, and His reaction to it? Surrender. With the full knowledge that only the Father could help Him through it. “Nevertheless, not what I want, but what You will, Father” And with that one word, Jesus accepted the will of the Father, the torment to Himself.
Jesus knew what was coming. The vilest of sin, the most heinous disease the enemy could muster for all mankind, past and future, was going to be poured into the body of our sinless Lord and the wrath of God emptied into that same Body, for the purpose of bringing unholy men into right standing with Holy God by one sacrifice for all men, for all time.
As He woke the sleeping disciples who were still ignorant of the extent of the future events, Jesus spoke with them, talked with them, and surrounded Himself with the friends He had made and the ones He would die for. As they left the garden, we see one thing that stays with me.
The “nevertheless” surrender empowered Jesus to move forward toward it all. How do we know? Because afterward He said “I AM”, and the power of God in Jesus caused men to fall to the ground. He replaced a severed ear with His hand. Even on His way to die, Jesus was still healing sinful people. Grace is not new. Jesus was not weakened by His willingness to let God do whatever God wanted with Him. The power of God was present at the unconditional surrender of Jesus.
And what should we do with this knowledge? Surrender. If it’s scary. If we know it may well get ugly. Why? “…because as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17) The Father hasn’t changed. Jesus is alive and His glory is restored. We can trust Him.
For His Glory 