Easter was different for me this year. I know it was a couple of weeks ago,
but I am still thinking through some things I was studying that week. Really
thinking through what my sin cost Jesus.
I read through the account of the events preceding the crucifixion and this
year my attention was caught on the garden. Specifically from Mark 14.
In Mark 14:34 Jesus says, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of
death.” Jesus is so sad, upset, etc. that he felt like He was going to die.
Yes, He knows He is going to die on the cross. But, right here, in the garden,
at that moment, He felt so much agony that He felt like He was dying.
It goes on in verse 35 and tells us that He fell to the ground. He collapsed
under the weight of this burden and there He prayed that if it were possible,
the hour might pass from Him.
Jesus was a real human person. He was saying here that His soul is killing
Him and then He took a couple of steps and fell on His face and asked His Father
to take this away from Him.
In verse 36 He says, "Daddy, all things are possible for You, take this cup
from me." He's saying "I know You can do anything. Can't you find another way to do this?" Jesus was so upset that He was sweating great drops of blood (Luke
22:44) The gospels tell us that Jesus made this request of His Father three
times.
I’m imagining my own child saying, "Mom, I feel like I’m dying right now. Come
on. You can do anything. Don’t make me go through with this. Take this away
from me." I’m picturing her screaming out to me three times to help her, to not
make her go through with this. What would that have done to my heart?
But Jesus also says, not My will, but Yours be done.
So what was God’s will? Isaiah 53:10 says, “Yet it was the Lord’s
will to crush him.” (Isaiah 53 is a prophecy of the
coming of the Messiah.)
Jesus is begging God and says "not My will but Yours be done." And God the
Father looks down on His Son and says, "it is My will to crush You. You are going
to be that guilt offering."
God sees Jesus crying out for Him. He sees Him sweating great drops of blood.
He sees Him in agony. He hears Him begging for another way. But it is God’s
will to crush Him, so that He can save me (and you). God looked at us and loved
us so much, He crushed His own Son. He allowed Him to beaten and crucified for
me.
And Jesus willing went through with the plan. The plan that had been in
place since the creation of the world.
So, how can my response be anything other than praise? How can I want
anything or anyone else?
Everything is about the cross.... my salvation, my joy, my rest, my peace, my security.
