Reflecting on Jesus' Words, "Not My Will But Thine" During the Agony in the Garden

Luke 22:39-42 says, "And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and knelt down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."

Knowing today is Maundy Thursday, it's time to reflect on the day before Jesus would be crucified on that Good Friday. It would be important to understand the meaning behind "Not my will but thine..." when He prayed to His Father saying, "Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me...". This was to show that what we want and what God wants is different. Jesus in His humanity was fearful of drinking the cup but He would do the will of the Father to drink that cup. He was in total submission to God's will and that the Father shows that God's will be done.

Remember, He had just prayed His great priestly prayer in John 17. Judas Iscariot was just there, given the sop before the Lord's supper was instituted. Then in John 17:12, Jesus had mentioned the sad fact that Judas Iscariot was not saved after all. There is no debate that Judas Iscariot was an unsaved heretic and a false convert. Jesus was praying that the Father be glorified and that Scripture will be fulfilled. At that point, Jesus had offered his high priestly prayer as He was going to intercede between God and man. In perfect accordance, that's why he said "Not my will but Thine."

At this event, Jesus had the medical condition called hematidrosis which is a very rare condition where the sweat is mingled with blood. Since Luke was a physician, he would have known of this condition happened when a person was under unusual extreme anxiety that causes sweet glands to rupture in the process. Jesus who knew no sin was about to know sin for mankind. Remember that Jesus' sacrifice is not just sacrificial love or just the wrath of God falling on Jesus, it was both. Jesus' love for sin allowed Him to take the wrath of the Father in His place for the righteousness of man since only He can pay for the penalty of sin.

So why did Jesus pray, "Not my will but Thine?" in the Garden of Gethsemane? It's because He was in complete obedience to the Father. In short, He said, "Father let Thy will be done. If you are willing to remove the cup, then it is not My will but Thine be done." He must endure the full wrath of God in order to pay for the sins of man. He was in full obedience to the Father that He did all that had to be done. No one else but Jesus can drink that cup of wrath for the sinner. If the lost sinner were to pay for his or her sins, the only option is an eternity in Hell which is the fullness of God's wrath.

This is also a model for Christians to follow. Seldom we have our wants but what we want may not be for God's greater glory. It made me think, nobody should be praying, "Thy will be done but give me John..." when John is not a Christian. Instead, God's will is to be followed. He will prepare us to accept His will, if we let Him be the One in control.