Day 4 - "Gethsemane"

Day Four - "Gethsemane"

“And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.’ And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’” —Matthew 26:39-41

Here, in the darkness of the olive grove, Jesus cried out to the Father. He was gripped with sorrow to the point of death. He felt the world’s lostness and pain—the darkness of not knowing the Father—violence, rage, destruction. Jesus knew only the Father could help Him carry the crushing weight of sorrow.

Everything Jesus revealed about His oneness with the Father in John 14-17, He now lived out in real time—interacting with His emotions, perceptions, and understandings of people and the world—grounded in the truth of His identity as Son of God.

Perhaps Jesus asked three times for the cup to pass “if possible” because He fully honored his humanity: spirit, soul, and body. Rather than toughening up and playing the role of an emotionless hero, He acknowledged His feelings. Fear screamed that He was in danger and should fight or flee. Heaviness tempted Him to cave in and give up. Discouragement banged on the door while His disciples slept. Would His sacrifice be for nothing? 

But Jesus knew who He was in the Father. As the beloved Son, He invited the Father’s compassion and wisdom into the moment to meet the need of His soul.

Jesus showed up fully in every moment. He was completely connected to God, never stepping outside of His true self. In John 5:19, He said, “The Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”

When the mob arrived to arrest Him, they asked for Jesus to identify Himself. At His confident response—“I am He”—they fell to the ground. His boldness reveals the Father had answered His prayers. God’s will wasn’t just for Jesus to go to the Cross, but to go as the Son—to remain faithful to His identity, not shrinking back or changing for anyone.

Reflection:
Who are you? What is your story? 
How can you process your emotions and needs with the Father in a way that brings courage? 
When the pressure of an uncomfortable situation tempts you to alter yourself to please others or avoid suffering, how will you stay true to your complete identity in the Father? 
How is God inviting you to show up fully as a child of God—in your work, your relationships, your health, and in situations out of your control?