Thoughts for another day

Oct. 25, 2007

Today's verse: Mt. 26:39. 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. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Every person comes to a point, when she or he realizes that going further is going to be tough. No matter what your status, you will come to this point where you’re going to be one with your being, which means, your thoughts, your feelings and your actions are completely one with each other unlike other times in life where your thoughts may be detached from your feelings or your actions. Our Lord also came to this point and the Gospels project it as the only point where He struggled with the situation.

Jesus refers to this point as ‘the hour’. An hour of great distress. He looked forward to it, as it would mean the achieving of the work He had set out to do; an unfolding of the blueprint of His Father’s will. Yet, he realized the pain He would need to bear being separated from His Father and this realization hit Him hard. He was benumbed by its severity. His soul envisioned this catastrophe and became very heavy. As usual, He turned to His Father, portraying His grief and pain in praying, ‘O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.’ And this prayer held hope for sinful mankind because it said, ‘Your will be done.’ Else, it could have been a different scenario, as how could the Loving Father, who always granted His beloved Son His prayer, not grant it now!

My friend, the Lord grimaced in pain and suffering, even before the event of scourging and crucifixion, for our sake. He gained strength from His prayer that in assimilating, the mantle of our sin upon Himself, He could go through the experience of being shut off from His Father – something He had never experienced. No matter the price, He knew He had to pay it, so you and I could be yanked out of the clutches of the evil one and reach the door of Paradise. For our salvation, He paid with His life. What a price that was. Remember this all your life and think if you will, ‘A God who can lay down His life for you, how much more He’ll do if you but believe and ask!’