Day 35 :: Not My Will
And he said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”
Mark 14:36
“Can you do me a favour?”
“What’s in it for me?”
I’ve heard this conversation countless times, and I’ve been on both sides of it. Truth be told, I think most of us think “What’s in it for me?” if we’re asked to do something. I’ll do something for you, if I can also get something I want. We often want selfishly to do things our way, for our own gain. I wonder if we could every act truly out of service and submission to someone else?
In Mark’s Gospel, after eating the Passover meal together, Jesus and his disciples went out to the Mount of Olives. In the garden called Gethsemane, Jesus left his disciples and prayed.
He knew what was ahead. He knew all the pain that was ahead of him. He knew he was soon to be arrested, tried, and killed. He knew his hour had come. He knew he had come to give his life as a ransom for many. And yet, he ‘prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.’ (v35) Why is he praying this if he knew this was his purpose and plan?
Mark tells us that ‘he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.’ (v33) Jesus told his disciples he was ‘deeply grieved to the point of death.’ (v34) We see a depth of raw emotion and turmoil here in Jesus that we’ve not seen before in Mark. We’ve seen Jesus being calm and composed even when those around him have been losing it, like when the disciples thought they were about to die in a boat, but Jesus calmed the raging storm. Now though, Jesus is facing an intense spiritual, emotional and physical weight that he must bear alone.
He knew he was about to bear the weight of sin, so he runs to his father in prayer. In anguish, he’s standing at the point of no return and asking if there is any other way. In his humanity, he’s wrestling with the brutal burden he is about to carry. Is there any other way? Can this cup of wrath he is about to drink be taken away?
And yet, he prays ‘not what I will, but what you will.’ (v36)
There was no shortcut, no other way. The salvation plan had been made, and Jesus was to lay down his life, taking hell in the place of all his people. So, he bows to that plan, he bows to his Father’s will. In his humanity he may have desired to escape the brutal pain, and yet he entrusts himself to his father’s care.
Three times he prayed, and three times he returned to find his disciples sleeping. He’d told them to stay awake and pray too, but they couldn’t keep their eyes open.
The time had come. Jesus told them to get up, he was about to be betrayed. Judas arrived in the garden with a mob to arrest Jesus, and having been betrayed with a kiss he was taken away.
What a huge contrast between Jesus and the disciples. Jesus knew that it was going to be excruciatingly painful to obey, and yet he submits to his father’s will. The disciples don’t really get what’s going on, they give in to their flesh, and fall asleep.
‘not what I will, but what you will’
Bowing to the father’s will meant pain and death, and yet it also meant joy and life for his people. Jesus laid down his life, and calls his followers to do the same. When we find new life in him, we’re then called to live for his will. We will find ourselves preferring to selfishly do things our way, and yet fullness of life and joy is found in bowing to our father’s will. What’s in it for us? It won’t be easy, it may bring pain, but we can entrust ourselves to our father’s care, knowing his will is good, right and will ultimately bring life and joy.
Take time today to consider Jesus’ humility and submission that took him to a cross. Praise and give him thanks that his obedience brought our salvation, and ask him that we might find life and joy in bowing to his will today.
Passage for today: Mark 14:32-52
A thought to remember: Despite the extreme pain and anguish, Jesus’ bowed to his father’s will.
A question to ask: What would it mean for you to pray ‘not what I will, but what you will’ today?
A song to sing: Man of Sorrows (Oh that rugged cross)