They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:32–36, NIV 1984).
My Musings – “Abba, Father.” We’ve seen this before, associated with “If I am a father, where is the honor due me?” Is there honor in asking the Father to “take this cup from me?” After all, what choice did He have? While there was no other solution than to take the “cup,” there was another choice. “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26:53–54, NIV 1984). But He deferred to the Father (“not what I will, but what you will”), because He knew that it was the only solution.
That’s honor. That’s respect. That’s obedience. That’s love. “He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8, NIV 1984).
If that isn’t love the ocean is dry
There’s no stars in the sky
And the sparrow cannot fly!
If that isn’t love
Then heaven is a myth
There’s no feeling like this
If that isn’t love
–Dottie Rambo, “If That Isn’t Love”
My Advice – Our souls may not be “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” But even if it is a lesser call to obedience, what will we choose? “Abba, Father…not what I will, but what you will.” Considering what He did for us…
The Brew Is A Musing 