From Indian Jones and the Last Crusade
It is not always easy to follow God. This is a lesson I learned – ironically as I taught it this morning.
Jesus knew the final outcome of his mission here on Earth. He knew that he would ascend to glory and sit at God’s right hand. He was with God when the plan was devised. He helped implement it from the beginning but he had to go through Hell to get there – literally.
And he knew going in that was part of the plan.
He knew what it would look like, what it would feel like, how it would taste and smell. He knew the pain, the desperation and the fear.
It is in this that I feel closest to my Lord and Savior.
Yes, He was tempted in the wilderness so he knows exactly how we feel when we face temptation but on the Mount of Olives He asked God three times if there was not another way.
Jesus was looking for an out.
“…May this cup be taken from me…” Jesus said (Matthew 26:39 NIV).
But in the end he said “…Yet I want your will to be done, not mine…” (Matthew 26:39 NLT).
Following Jesus is NEVER going to be easy. You may as well come to grips with that right now but if Jesus could face the beatings he suffered and then ultimately the cross don’t you think you can deal with your minor inconvenience for now?
Mick Holt 
3 Comments
I’m so thankful for the Gethsemane prayer. It shows me that it’s OK to pray for what we want. Submitted to God’s will, yes, but it’s still OK to ask God to take cups away from us.
Loren,
You’re right – isn’t it amazing how through Jesus God taught a simple lesson like “ask for what YOU want” ?
Thanks for stopping by!
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