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April 1 – Mark 14:32-72 (Maundy Thursday)

“Abba, Father,” [Jesus] said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” ~ Mark 14:36 (NIV)

When God says no to our prayers, we can be tempted to believe that He doesn’t care or isn’t really listening to us, but Jesus’ experience in Gethsemane proves that this isn’t the case. Jesus, the Son of God, prayed, and the answer to His prayer was no. So, Jesus knows how we feel when God says no. He understands the struggle we face as we try to reconcile our human desires with God’s will.


Gethsemane is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives, and the word “Gethsemane” means “oil press,” which indicates that there was an oil press nearby for making olive oil out of the olives from the garden. Jesus Himself was “pressed” as He prayed. Before praying, He tells His disciples, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (v. 34), and then He prays for His Father to take away the cup of suffering He was about to drink (v. 36). Scripture tells us that He prayed this prayer three times (v. 41, see also Matthew 26:44). Luke 22:44 adds, “And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Under great stress, this can happen. Capillaries burst, and blood mingles with sweat in the sweat glands.) So, Jesus was struggling intensely with sorrow and trepidation about the suffering to come, and He shared His feelings with His friends and with His Father.


Jesus’ experience at Gethsemane should remind us that God understands everything we suffer in this life because He’s experienced it. Jesus not only heard “no” to a prayer, but He was also betrayed, abused, abandoned, mocked, and tortured. The night before He was tortured and killed, He was betrayed by a close friend, abandoned and denied by other friends, put on trial illegally with false witnesses lying about Him, beaten, spit upon, mocked, and verbally abused. If you have been mistreated, know that Jesus was, too—and He went through it for you.


In the end, Jesus surrendered His will to His Father’s will. There was no other way for Him to save us, so He went to the cross and took all our sin upon Himself. As He went, He left us an example for dealing with our own struggles—no matter how awful they may be. First, we need to be honest about our feelings, speaking of them openly with God and with close friends. Next, we need to ask for what we desire, knowing that we may not receive it but realizing that God will always give us what is best. His will is for us to become like Christ, and sometimes He allows us to go through trials and struggles to help us grow. Finally, we must pray as we come to a place of peace and surrender, asking God to align our will with His.


If you are struggling right now, remember Jesus’ struggle. Remember His sorrow, fear, and pain in the Garden of Gethsemane. These emotions were so powerful and heavy that they felt lethal (v. 34), but Jesus took them to His Father. Follow His lead and go to God today as you ponder Jesus’ last days on earth. Open your heart to Him and work through all your emotions in prayer. Spend time with Him regularly so that you grow to trust Him enough to say, like Jesus said, “…not what I will, but what you will” (v. 36). He is good. You can trust Him. He loves you enough to die for you.

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My name is Melissa Anderson. I'm a spiritual director and ordained pastor who loves God, people, and words. You can read more about me by clicking the button below.

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