2/9/21

"And he went a little farther, 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 27:39)
My heart breaks each time I read this passage. Our lovely and lowly Savior, flat on His stomach, lying on the ground, and calling out to His Father in Gethsemane. The cruel cross looms before Him. Such pain and humiliation awaits Him. And, then there is Satan, who will unleash all unimaginable hatred upon Him!
How awful it must have been? Luke's gospel records , "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:44)
Hematidrosis. "Sweating blood."
The stress of this moment is so great, that Jesus asks the Father, "Is there any other way for us to do this?"
"...O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." (Matthew 26:39)
But, there was no other way for us to be spared of Satan's wrath, and eternal torment in hell! NO OTHER WAY!!! So He paid the full price for our sin.
Why did He go through with it? The answer may seem too simple, yet it is true all the same. Because He loved us!
1) The priests did not send Him to the cross!
2) Pilate did not send Him to the cross!
3) The centurion, nor his soldiers, did not hold Him on the cross!
4) The nails did not keep Him on the cross!
No! It was His love for us that kept Him on that cruel cross! That, and that alone was the reason for Him go through with it.
Jesus is the bravest of the brave. He Is the kindest of the kind. And He is the most loving man that ever walked the face of the earth. Jesus did for us what no other could do. He saved us from the penalty of sin.
That is why I have devoted myself to the Lord Jesus Christ. I owe Him my life! I will gladly serve Him. He is worthy!
From my heart to your heart.