Oftentimes when someone is downtrodden and enduring life’s troubles, others may casually say, “We all have our cross to bear.” This, of course, refers to the cross Christ was forced to carry on his flogged shoulders—that very cross on which he was nailed, crucified, and suffered excruciating and unimaginable physical pain. It is almost blasphemous when we attempt to compare our human sufferings to those of Christ.
This morning I was reading the scriptural account of Christ’s prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane. The LORD set the cup of agony before him—this was the purpose of his life on earth. He was praying in the Garden, a stone’s throw away from his disciples who were sleeping. He was praying so fervently and in such agony that he was “sweating drops of blood”, asking first of the Father that the cup be taken from him. After an angel appeared before Christ to strengthen and encourage Him, He again prayed, “ O my Father, if this cup may not pass from me except I drink it, thy will be done”.
At any time, Christ could have called a legion of angels to help him fight off the centurions coming for him, led by Judas. At any time, Christ could have prevented his appointed fate and lived beyond his thirty-third year, a life of human manhood, taking a wife and continuing his carpentry work, raising a family, living out his years faithful to God as a human man. He knew from the beginning of time the purpose of His destiny on earth. In perfect submission and obedience, he “drank the bitter cup of agony”.
The dark abysmal times ahead of me and my family, the physical and emotional pain we must endure for a while, and the financial hardships we’ve suddenly been thrown into, have brought me to my knees before God. I have asked Him for strength and wisdom so that I may endure the struggles in my life.
This cup of agony is sweet compared to that which the Lord had to drink.
This morning I was reading the scriptural account of Christ’s prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane. The LORD set the cup of agony before him—this was the purpose of his life on earth. He was praying in the Garden, a stone’s throw away from his disciples who were sleeping. He was praying so fervently and in such agony that he was “sweating drops of blood”, asking first of the Father that the cup be taken from him. After an angel appeared before Christ to strengthen and encourage Him, He again prayed, “ O my Father, if this cup may not pass from me except I drink it, thy will be done”.
At any time, Christ could have called a legion of angels to help him fight off the centurions coming for him, led by Judas. At any time, Christ could have prevented his appointed fate and lived beyond his thirty-third year, a life of human manhood, taking a wife and continuing his carpentry work, raising a family, living out his years faithful to God as a human man. He knew from the beginning of time the purpose of His destiny on earth. In perfect submission and obedience, he “drank the bitter cup of agony”.
The dark abysmal times ahead of me and my family, the physical and emotional pain we must endure for a while, and the financial hardships we’ve suddenly been thrown into, have brought me to my knees before God. I have asked Him for strength and wisdom so that I may endure the struggles in my life.
This cup of agony is sweet compared to that which the Lord had to drink.
No comments:
Post a Comment