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The Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, all describe the sorrow of Jesus in the garden. In the shadow of the cross, he prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Although the Gospel of John does not describe this same prayer, it does give a further glimpse of the outcome. As the mob came out bearing weapons, Jesus resolutely faced the suffering to come. His simple whisper of “I AM” knocked the crowd to the ground, proving He could easily have escaped the coming pain. But He wasn’t there to fight or to run. Rephrasing His earlier prayer, Christ purposefully stated that He would choose to drink this cup the Father gave Him. He was fully committed to His Father’s perfect will, and so He chose His perfect way. Peter had a more difficult time, though. Earlier, he told Jesus that he would die for him; and with sword swinging, he was ready. To him, fighting was the only logical action. Like Jesus, He desired the “cup” of suffering to be removed, but he wasn’t prepared to accept any other plan than his own. So, when Jesus was led away in chains, Peter spiraled. In a matter of hours, he turned from the Lord’s defender to denying that He even knew Him. In our earthly kingdoms, we love to make ourselves the rulers. Enthroning ourselves over our lives, we want to take control. It’s easy to pray for God’s will, but so much harder to walk the path that He chooses. He is the all-knowing and perfectly loving Father, but, sometimes, we think we still know best. The heart is deceptive, and left on our own, humanity will always choose Barabbas. The fight to get what we want is naturally preferred over submission to His sovereign truth. But trusting our King is the only choice worth making. The cup He gives may look like a cross, but it always leads to life. His will is always the best way. DAILY READING Read John 18 CHRISTMAS CONNECTION A fun way to remember to “drink God’s cup” is to decorate your own Christmas mug with a verse or phrase reminding you to always choose Him and His way. During times of prayer, having this cup in front of you can encourage you to trust the King.