An Earnest Plea

An Earnest Plea

“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Luke 22:42

The life of Christ was a life of prayer. We find that Christ was in constant communion with His Father and embodied the statement, ‘pray without ceasing.’ Having said that, we find that He drew apart for particular seasons of prayer, especially before great endeavors such as the calling of the disciples and walking upon the water. Our text brings us to consider His prayer time in the Garden of Gethsemane, before His Passion. As we considered yesterday, Christ here reflects what we may describe as, truly human emotion. Let us consider today the earnest plea that He utters, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from me.’ We cannot credit the idea that He was in any way, seeking to avoid the suffering of the cross or even the pain leading up to it. We considered, as a possibility, that desire which He had to not endure utter abandonment by His disciples and the accompanying isolation. What we see here is His earnest plea about something personally painful to Him; asking His Father that He not have to endure it. His pattern of prayer serves as a template for our own praying. We may be facing things that we would rather not have to endure. It is entirely appropriate for us to bring these requests to Our Father, praying that if it be possible that we not have to endure them. We cannot know ahead of time what the will of the Father is, or how He will answer. We can but ask, according to His will, knowing that whatever His answer is, it will be for our good, and for His Glory. Today, Child of God, imitate your Savior. Ask away, and see what God will do.

Our Gracious and Prayer-hearing God,
we bring before Your Eternal Throne,
all these things which pain us most.
We pray that You will hear and answer every one,
according to the counsel of Your Sovereign Will.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning