Our Suffering Savior

Read: Luke 22:39-46

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? --- Psalm 22:1

The Bible In One Year:
Psalms 26-28
Acts 22

It was late on the Thursday evening of Passover week. Jesus was with His disciples at one of His favorite retreats --- the Garden of Gethsemane. In great emotional distress, He admonished the disciples to pray for strength to remain loyal to Him. He removed Himself a short distance from them and prayed, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done" [Luke 22:42].

The "cup" from which Jesus asked to be delivered was not death. He came to die for us. I think the cup represents the frightful alienation from His Father that would lead to His cry on the cross: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" [Matt. 27:46].

In the garden, He must have been anticipating that time when His Father would turn His back on Him. The coming of the angel assured Him that He was not alone. Yet the reality of the Father's imminent withdrawal from Him was foremost in His thoughts. He would be taking our sin on Himself and enduring the awesome aloneness of the cross. This realization drove Jesus to pray with so much intensity that "His sweat became like great drops of blood" [Luke 22:44].

And what's even more amazing is the truth that Jesus endured this suffering for you and me! --- Herb Vander Lugt

Here I give myself to Thee,
Soul and body, Thine to be;
It was for me Thy blood was shed
On the cross of Calvary. --- Anon.

THE DEATH OF CHRIST IS THE MEASURE OF GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU.