Luke 22:39-23:25

‘Jesus … as He usually did … went to the Mount of Olives …. and knelt down and prayed’.

Luke brings us into an intimate prayer moment with Jesus.

Jesus was speaking to God in prayer, as a child would talk over some serious decision with a parent.

Jesus was asking God for a favour … a huge favour.

He knew what would happen over the next few days and the prospects were not pleasant. He called the events of the next few days ‘a cup of suffering’, and He asked God to take away the ‘cup of suffering’.

As we look back on the last days of Jesus’ life on this earth, knowing as we do what lay before Him, the request sounds reasonable. We, lesser mortals, would not be asking; we probably would be begging.

But Jesus asked if another way, besides suffering and death, could be found to save God’s people from sin, suffering and death. He wanted to make certain that the ‘way of the cross’ was THE only way to salvation and eternal life.

I can imagine Jesus going over a list of alternatives, and eliminating each one in turn.

Finally, concluding there was no other choice, Jesus consented ‘not my will, but your (God’s) will be done’.

At that moment there was no turning back for Jesus.

Then an angel appeared to Him and ‘strengthened Him’. Maybe Jesus remembered the encounter with the evil one in the desert when He fasted 40 days and was tempted at least three times. There, as here, angels surrounded Him to give Him strength.

The message for us is encouraging. In times of decision making and direction mapping in our lives, God (or angels) are present to help us through the critical moments. ‘I am with you ALWAYS’, said Jesus.

Two days before His own crucifixion, Jesus needed to be assured that the words He spoke to others about God being present with people in all circumstances and situations of life and death, also applied to Him.

They did.

Question – When have you faced similar situations and wanted God’s assurance?

Three more days to Resurrection Sunday.

Tomorrow's reading: Luke 23:26-56

(Today's post submitted by Rev. Hollis Hiscock.)