After the Last Supper, Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives to pray. There, he knelt and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" (42). Jesus knew his Father's will for him: it was to die on the cross as the Lamb of God, bearing God's wrath on his body and being forsaken. Jesus wanted to avoid it. He fought a fierce spiritual battle through prayer to submit to the will of his Father until he could say, "not my will, but yours be done." His prayer was so earnest that his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. God strengthened him through an angel. Now he was ready to face the cross; but the disciples were not, for they did not prepare through prayer.

An armed crowd led by Judas came to arrest Jesus. Judas approached Jesus like a friend and kissed him, hiding his evil intention. Jesus gave him the last opportunity to repent, saying, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" It was a kiss of betrayal. When Jesus was arrested, his followers wanted to fight with swords by striking the ear of the high priest's servant. However, Jesus stopped them, for it was not his way. He even healed the servant. Jesus' way was not the way of swords, but the way of obedience and submission to the will of God even when darkness reigned.


Application: Father, help me to pray like Jesus until I may submit to your will for me and follow your way.
One Word: Not my will, but yours be done!