There are some events in Jesus’ last days that ought to stick with us because in a way, every Christian is called to go through something similar. Come with me on a journey to the cross. On this journey, we discover two events that should remain etched in our memory because in them we discover how to be more like Jesus in our daily lives.
The first stop on our way to the cross is the Garden of Gethsemane . Here you’ll find our Lord with three of his most beloved disciples: Peter, James and John. Scripture says he told his disciples to sit and wait for Him while He prayed. In Mark 14:32-34, we are told: “He began to be troubled and deeply distressed”. Then Jesus says: “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death”
Jesus knows what’s going to happen. He knows what awaits him is excruciating physical pain and the trauma of being “forsaken” by the Father. But he also knows that he will rise again victoriously to defeat death once and for all so that people everywhere can be saved from their sins. He knows his death will mean eternal life for so many. So how could it be then that Jesus is so sorrowful? While Jesus is 100% God, He is also 100% human. Hebrews 4:15 says, “ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin “ This is why you can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence” (Heb 4:16), because he understands our struggles. He has been there, and has come out victorious.
So Jesus prays.
Our Lord fell to the ground asking the Father to spare him this trial if it were possible, but he was fully prepared to surrender to the Father’s will. And he knows that in just a few moments, one of his disciples would betray him with a kiss leading to our Lord’s arrest and ultimate crucifixion. At this moment, Jesus had to feel utterly alone.
While we might not face anything like a literal crucifixion, we all must pass through our own Garden of Gethsemane. This is where we, like Jesus, lay it all down and leave it in God’s hands. We learn to let go, and accept God’s will because we can trust in God’s character. We might not trust God if we didn’t know His character, but he has revealed Himself marvelously in Jesus Christ, and Jesus “is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8). Jesus knew there would be hardship ahead but he entrusted Himself to the Father, and so can you.
Then after Gethsemane, we must stop a while at the cross itself as Jesus is being crucified. Here is where Jesus confronts death. But just as Jesus died for all of us, He also died to Himself on that cross, and we too are to “take up our cross” and die to ourselves daily. This is where you’ll find true freedom. It’s the place where you get over yourself.
There is something great about dying to yourself. One of the benefits is that you no longer hurt over yourself so much. You are no longer so sensitive to yourself, your ego, your feelings and your desires, because you are dead to yourself, and you can’t hurt a dead person once they’re dead can you? Die to yourself, and you’ll find yourself liberated to live for God. In other words, don’t be full of yourself but empty yourself before the cross so that instead you can fill yourself up with God, the Holy Spirit!
Ultimately, these events of surrender and sacrifice are not just historical events, but a daily blueprint for the life of a believer. By walking through our own Gethsemane and carrying our own cross, we find that the path to true spiritual freedom always leads through total trust in God.
How can you surrender a difficult situation to God’s hands this week?’