Matthew 26:35 All the disciples declared that they would die before disowning Jesus. A few hours later, however, they all scattered. Talk is cheap. It is easy to say we are devoted to Christ, but our claims are meaningful only when they are tested in the crucible of persecution. How strong is your faith? Is it strong enough to stand up under intense trial?
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Matthew 26:37, 38 Jesus was in great sorrow and distress over His approaching physical pain, separation from the Father, and death for the sins of the world. The divine course was set, but He, in His human nature, still struggled (Hebrews 5:7-9). Because of the anguish Jesus experienced, He can relate to our suffering. Jesus' strength to obey came from His relationship with God the Father, who is also the source of our strength (John 17:11, 15, 16, 21, 26).
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Matthew 26:39 Jesus was not rebelling against His Father's will when He asked that the cup of suffering and separation be taken away. In fact, He reaffirmed His desire to do God's will by saying, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." His prayer reveals to us His terrible suffering. His agony was worse than death because He said for all sin by being separated from God. The sinless Son of God took our sins upon Himself to save us from suffering and separation.
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Matthew 26:39 In times of suffering people sometimes wish they knew the future, or they wish they could understand the reason for their anguish. Jesus knew what lay ahead of Him, and He knew the reason. Even so, his struggle was intense - more wrenching than any struggle we will ever have to face. What does it take to be able to say, "as You will" ? It takes firm trust in God's plans; it takes prayer and obedience each step of the way.
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