THY WILL BE DONE. Mark 14:36.

Posted bySteven WalesPosted inCrucifixion and Resurrection/apologetics and evidence, I SURRENDER ALLTags:, , , , , , , ,

Often our greatest hurts come without warning—you break a bone, lose a loved one, fail a task. The pain is real, but the triggering event is behind you.

But what about when horror looms ahead of you? In some ways, dread is so much worse.

Before the crucifixion, “Jesus knew everything that was about to happen to Him” John 18:4. Imagine that.

At the end of another productive day—after the Last Supper and washing the disciples’ feet—Jesus took Peter, James, and John into the Garden:

“He began to be SORROWFUL and DEEPLY DISTRESSED. Then He said, ‘My soul is SWALLOWED UP IN SORROW—TO THE POINT OF DEATH. Remain here and stay awake with me’” Matthew 26:37-38.

Mark writes, “He began to be deeply distressed and HORRIFIED” 14:33. Luke says that after Jesus began to pray:

“An angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. Being in anguish, He prayed more fervently, and HIS SWEAT BECAME LIKE DROPS OF BLOOD falling to the ground” 22:44.

(So AFTER the angel gave Jesus strength, He began to sweat drops of blood? How overwhelmed do you have to be that sweating drops of blood is an improvement?) Consider the phrases in just the Holman translation: Sorrowful, deeply distressed, swallowed up in sorrow to the point of death, horrified, sweat drops of blood. This is a man FILLED WITH DREAD.

WebMd describes hematidrosis (sweating blood) as “extremely rare… tiny blood vessels in the skin break open… caused by extreme distress or fear, such as facing death, torture.” Again—Jesus was filled with dread. But a few minutes later He faces arrest, torture, trials, and death with bold courage. How?

I believe it was His powerful prayer:

“Abba, Father! All things are possible for You! Take this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done” Mark 14:36.

He seems to have prayed the same thing for an hour or two. And He left strengthened and encouraged, so bold in fact, that the men who came to arrest Him fell at His feet when they saw His courage! (See John 18:4-11.)

Pray: “Not my will, but Thine be done.”

Read Mark 14.

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Published by Steven Wales

Dad's Daily Devotional began as text messages to my family. I wanted my teenagers to know their father was reading the Bible. But they were at school by then. Initially, I sent them a favorite verse or an insight based on what I read each day. That grew into drafting a devotional readng which I would send them via text. I work as an attorney and an adjunct professor, and recently wrote a book called HOW TO MAKE A'S.

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