Devotion 12

One message I missed in the Bible is Luke 22:41-42:

He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

This happened right before Jesus got arrested.

Had Jesus considered and asked the possibility to live, to stay? If so, I'm sure it was not for the purpose of being spared from agony, but out of love for His people. In the end, He submitted Himself to God's will.

Who can ever love like Jesus did? When we do things in the name of love, do we really consult our Heavenly Father for guidance? Are we showing our obedience as Jesus did in His prayer? No matter how much Jesus loved His people and wanted to stay with them, He turned to God and asked for His will. He submitted Himself to God's will and sacrificed His life for His beloved. When the curtain of the temple was torn in two (Luke 23:35), the way was opened between sinful humanity and the presence of the holy of holies. The new order of grace is ushered in, with the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

This is the unconditional & sacrificial love from Christ! This is the love that should humble each one of us.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. -- 1 John 4:10

Happy Easter!