Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. – Luke 22: 39-44
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 14-15; Luke 22: 21-46
Man… this is not a good look.
Jesus knew the end was near and that Judas and Peter would betray him. He must have felt terrible.
But what did he do? He prayed.
The prayer and what happens afterward are interesting to me. He did ask God to get him out of the situation. I mean really... who wouldn't?
But he also said, “yet not my will, but yours be done”.
And then what happens next? An angel appears to comfort him.
Sigh…
Obviously, based on my previous posts, I have no answers when it comes to choice versus destiny. There is something profoundly mysterious about what Jesus says in that prayer. If it had been me I’d have hit God with the “please, please, please”.
But Jesus is more gangsta than I.
What I do think I understand is what happens with the angel. It is comforting to know that when we are going through a tough time God will send an angel to us. Maybe that angel will provide a way out of that trial. Maybe that angel will come in the form of a friend or stranger to give us advice or comfort. Maybe the angel will do something altogether unexpected.
I don’t know.
But what I do know is that when we ask for help, help will come in the form that we need most.
Even if it is answering a different need then we asked for.
really great post... I trully believe that many of us misunderstand asking God for answers to mean that He will always give us what we want, when in actuality, He will always give us what we NEED. Might not be the cup of tea we're looking or asking for, but ultimately, God knows us better than anyone and has already layed out our lives.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favore quotes is "All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Regarding choice vs destiny... I dont believe its something we can fully answer. All we can do is make the best choices in life, as God would and leave our Destiny in His hands... We dont control or own our lives, we are here to manage it and live it according to His will...
Another thing I wanted to share that a friend of mine wrote when someone close to him passed...
I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity and God gave me brawn and brain to work.
I asked for courage and God gave me dangers to overcome.
I asked for patience and God placed me in situations where I was forced to wait.
I asked for love and God gave me troubled people to help.
I asked for favors and God gave me opportunities. ...
I received nothing I wanted; instead I received everything I needed, and as a result I am a stronger person...
Wow.. great response.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favore quotes is "All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
That is an amazing quote. I aspire to that level of insight and faith. It's funny because some days I see what Emerson is talking about and other days I don't.
The difference seems to be within me. Am I operating in fear or in faith?
Thank you also for sharing the words that your friend wrote. That was very powerful.
What up C Money? I think you nailed it with your statement. "Jesus knew the end was near and that Judas and Peter would betray him".
ReplyDelete"But he also said, “yet not my will, but yours be done”.
Your very destiny is connected to the choices you make each day.
Jesus could have made a different choice, but He knew for this very reason He was sent.
To seek and save the lost...
Love ya
Peace out
Nicwithpurpose
To C And to Eden, as someone who just lost a loved one himself, what you shared is extremely on point for me right now. I feel like I just went through an "Angel" experience like the one mentioned in the Bible. Eden I feel like I'm actually living what your friend wrote about. It's definitely not a coincidence that I read those posts today. Thanks for being a blessing!
ReplyDeleteMan of God, for some reason I feel led to say to you STOP!
ReplyDeleteYou're thinking way too hard about this stuff...
You have already answered your own question of destiny versus choices.
In your blog your motto is "Life has paths, not destinations."
Being that as it may, the choices that you make each day will lead you one or two places, God's destiny for your life according to His will, or the destiny you choose based on your own selfish desires.
Those who are the Sons of God, are led by the Spirit of God....
Jesus chose to fulfill His God given destiny... And I’m so glad that He did.
Peace
Nicwithpurpose
@Nicwithpurpose hahaha... true it may be that simple... I just don't believe that it is. And yes it is above my pay grade to figure out choice verse destiny but I can't help it if I am intrigued by it.
ReplyDeleteTrust... I know the cost of trying to play God by working to understand the infinite.
I appreciate the concern.