Three Years in 30 Days: Jesus' Life and MissionSample

Jesus in Gethsemane

“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39 ESV)

Jesus was fully human on earth. The night before He was arrested, Jesus was deeply troubled by the suffering that awaited Him. He would be separated from His heavenly Father and completely alone. Jesus took upon Himself the burden of all the sins of all mankind.

In the Old Testament, “the cup of God’s wrath” was the symbol of God’s judgment on the sins of mankind (Psalm 75:8). Jesus drank this cup in our place. He was the only one capable of bearing this judgment in order to give people forgiveness and peace with God. In His grief and anguish, Jesus continued to surrender to the will of His Father. Jesus knew what He had to go through. He also knew why it was necessary and where it would lead. That is why He persevered. Jesus restored the separation between God and us. And because He endured intense suffering, He understands our anguish and loneliness like no other. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

This event shows how much it cost Jesus to bring us back to God.

Read Matthew 26:39 again and try to imagine Jesus kneeling in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying.

• Is there anything that touches you?
• What would you like to say to Jesus about this?