Jesus Knew

"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." - Matthew 26:36-39

The eve before He was to be crucified, Jesus was "sorrowful and troubled". He was standing at the precipice of humanity, knowing what laid ahead. Knowing he would take on the darkest, ugliest, most vile sins of mankind, suffer brutally at the hands of evil men and hang until dead on a cross. He knew.

As if that weren't enough to be "sorrowful and troubled" about, Jesus knew he would be separated from God. He knew God, in all his Holiness, could not be in the presence of sin, so Jesus knew He would have to endure the hardest thing imaginable, separation from God, His Father. Jesus, who had always walked in oneness with God the Father, knew He would be alone. He knew.

Jesus asked God three times to let this cup pass from Him. To find another way. However, He also knew it was God's will not His. When it became clear God's answer was NO, Jesus obediently submitted to the will of the Father, for He knew the prophecies must be fulfilled. The Kingdom of God was at hand. He knew.

I know it sounds crazy to say it brings me great peace to know Jesus, while facing the ultimate sacrifice, was "sorrowful and troubled" and probably a bit frightened. However, the knowledge that He was human, that He experienced in the flesh just how hard it is for us, gives me an everlasting peace. Because He endured the cross at the will of God, suffered great pain, great loneliness, separation from His Father, He builds a perfect bridge for mine and your relationship with God,our Father.

As I face the struggles of my day, wondering sometimes how I will make it through my current situation, the reminder that Jesus knows, HE KNOWS, is all I need to take the next right step.

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" - Revelation 5:12