Wednesday, May 15: Matthew 26– Prayer in the garden…

The drama of Jesus’ last days begins to scroll across the pages of the Gospel as chapter 26 progresses. My focus was drawn to my Lord’s time in the garden. Matthew records some of the actual words prayed by Jesus. I found myself sitting under the weight of His prayers this morning.
Verse 39 "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."  His pleading with the Father for the cup to pass and yet the utter surrender to the will and way of the Father strikes a deep chord within me. Honesty with submission. What a powerful duo.
I read the words again to allow them time to sink in… "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." My Lord, the Lord of the universe dreading, yet willing, to climb the cross to defeat Satan and save all who believe!
The verse 42, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." Clearly Jesus has heard from the Father that the cup will not pass, that He must endure what is to come (the cross) for the defeat of the enemy and salvation of human kind. The pleading is gone, His will has surrendered, faith and belief in the Father’s will and plan rings out… may your will be done.
Honesty… Relationship… Faithfulness…

Oh, God, that I might display the faith of Jesus. Oh, God, that I might live in total honesty with You as Jesus did. Oh, God, that I might have the relationship with You that Jesus had. He prayed honestly, heard Your reply and then lived Your will faithfully… May that be true of me, Lord. May that be true of me, Lord God Almighty. Amen

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