Matthew 26:39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

This is one of the most famous recorded prayers in history, but we don’t let its implications seep into us deeply enough. Jesus was not a passive victim in His suffering; He went through it in very active submission to His Father. Part of His suffering was that He knew what was coming. I’m reminded of a video I’ve seen of the last person executed by guillotine in France, and how he looked being brought out of the building to where the guillotine was set up. In his case, death was quick and relatively painless, but what Jesus faced was the opposite. Man’s inhumanity to man indeed knows no bounds! The point is, Jesus chose to go through with it in order to fulfill the Father’s plan of salvation for mankind. We balk at much less suffering! However, this is what Jesus was talking about not long before He prayed this prayer: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) At this point, He needed a taste of His own medicine! We go through all sorts of things, but Jesus has gone through worse, and He is able to carry us through whatever we encounter.

This is very timely, not only because of the season of the year but because of the stress I’ve been going through in relation to tomorrow’s church business meeting. It is a gentle reminder that a business meeting is no comparison to a crucifixion! The stresses on me at this point are all minor, from an objective standpoint, but they add up, and my flesh wants to escape! It’s been many years now since the Lord told me to rest, relax, and rejoice, but I keep demonstrating that I don’t do that very well. It’s amusing to remember all the things I’ve told others, and need to apply them to myself. Just as Jesus needed to remember what He had told the disciples in the Upper Room, I need to remember to take my eyes off of myself and fix them on Jesus, just as it says in Hebrews 12. When He went through all that for me, I’m a total wimp if I run from anything He leads me to. Yes, in myself I am quite powerless, but as Paul discovered, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) God has good plans for me and for this church. I am to rest, relax, and rejoice to participate in those plans and see them come to pass, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. That I was dreaming about it shows the level of stress I’ve accepted. Help me be active in my submission to You, just as Jesus was, so that I may be fully useful to You in what You want to do in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!