Holy Week

"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."

Luke 22: 39-42

The Last Supper is a strong reminder of how very human Jesus was, yet divine at the same time. How terrifying it must have been for Christ to know his crucifixion was near, yet remain strong for his disciples. He was so human in his request, “take this cup from me”, which reveals his anguish. We sometimes forget that Jesus faced the same human temptations and struggles while here on earth. And yet he prayed, “your will be done” in the face of his own death.

It can be difficult to let go of our desires and follow Christ. Even in the simplest areas of life, we can be tempted to handle adversity in a sinful or selfish way. When we say Yes to God we are called away from our old selves, from our old way of doing things, from our old ways of thinking. We say Yes to God because “…not that we loved God, but that he loved us first and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

As we strive to align the desires of our hearts to God’s will in our lives, we can be encouraged and humbled by Christ, who so bravely in the face of death prayed, “Yet not my will, but yours be done.”