Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus came, “unto a place called Gethsemane, and said unto the disciples, Sit you here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then said he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry you here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, 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 you will. And he came unto the disciples, and finds them asleep, and said unto Peter, What, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse forty-two of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus told His disciples, “went away again the second time, and prayed” where we read:
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father,
if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, your will be done.
The verse reads, “He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, ...” Matthew began words, “he went away again” which means “Jesus left and departed once again” “the second time” or “the second afterward, place or rank”, “and prayed” which means “and supplicated, worshiped and prayed earnestly”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “O my Father” which refers to “O God, Jesus' Heavenly Father”. Matthew shared how Jesus left Peter, James and John again and went to pray to His Heavenly Father again.
The verse goes on to say, “... if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, your will be done.” Matthew added the words, “if this cup” which means “whether this drinking vessel or divine appointment” “may not pass away from me” or “is not able, capable, or strong and powerful enough to be averted and avoided by Jesus”, “except I drink it” which means “whether Jesus imbibe or go through the appointment”, “your will be done” or “God's desire, determination, command, precept, choice, inclination and pleasure be that which Jesus follows”. Matthew shared how Jesus resigned to His idea to not go through this “divine appointment” and surrendered His “will” to His Heavenly Father's.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus went again to pray to His Heavenly Father, God, and asked the same question concerning the “cup” passing from Him. Because there was no other way found for the “salvation” of mankind except that He go through this suffering, Jesus surrendered His “will” to God's. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16), and this was the moment when Jesus surrendered His life so that every person who believes and trusts in Him will live with Him forever. Those who are wise shall review this verse and think through it thoroughly, and understand their need to “surrender” their “will” to Jesus even as He “surrendered” His “will” to His Father's in Heaven.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus, “came and found them asleep again”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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