"Not As I Will"

The place was Gethsemane, a garden outside the city, a place planted with the olive and other trees, across the Kidron brook and on the Mount of Olives. It was a place that Jesus and His disciples were familiar with (John 18:1-2), and so on this night it would not have been unusual for them to be have gone there. According to Matthew's narrative, they had just finished their last meal together and Jesus, knowing what was imminent, spoke to them about a number of things. The narrative continues, "And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matthew 26:37-39, KJV).

It is hard to imagine the "weight" that was on Jesus' shoulders. He who was born to die, in His humanity felt the deepest anguish, and there in the garden with His friends close by He seemingly struggled with the burden of what was ahead. This was He of whom the angels declared to Joseph, "Thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Here He was, pleading with the father, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." The word "cup" is often used in this context in Scripture to point out sorrow, anguish, terror, and death. In essence Jesus' prayer was, "If the world can be redeemed - if it be consistent with justice, and with maintaining the government of the universe, that people should be saved without this extremity of sorrow, let it be done" (Albert Barnes). However, He did not stop there but continued, "Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

For sure that has to be the hardest part. Yielding our will to that of the Father. Giving up what we want to do, for what He wants us to do. Giving up what we would like to have, for what He wills for our lives. Giving up where we would rather go, to go wherever He sends us. Giving up the known for the unknown. His will versus our will - the two are not always the same. Left to our own ways we would take the easy way out, we would take only the best of what life has to offer. However, where is the growth in that? How is God glorified on “Easy Street”? How do we put Him first if we are not prepared to surrender our will for His? Yet, as His representatives on earth that is exactly what we are called to do. There is nothing to say that His way is easy and comfortable. Lest we forget, it is never about us but all about Him and Jesus demonstrated that to the fullest.

"Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." As you strive to please God in your service and obedience to Him, do you finish your prayers with that sentence?