How to Surrender When You Don’t Want To
Just hours before the crucifixion, Jesus and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, just outsside of the city walls of Jerusalem. Jesus becomes overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. He asks Peter, James, and John to stay awake and watch, and He goes and falls face-first to the ground in prayerful anguish before the Father. He says, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as you will.” His prayer consisted of:
1. Complete honesty – He is face-first on the ground crying out to His Father. The cup He references is a powerful symbol that represents the wrath of God (Revelation 14:10). Gethsemane means, “olive press”. Olives are placed in a giant stone press and crushed to remove the oil. In beautiful symbolism, Jesus is in an “olive press garden” being crushed in His surrender to the point of His lifeblood being spilled. See Luke 22:44, Isaiah 53:3, Isaiah 53:10
2. Humility – “Not as I will, but as you will”. Nobody took Jesus’ life, He gave it freely in an act of humility for the sin of the world. See Matthew 6:10
3. Trust through relationship – Trust is built when we understand character. Jesus knew His Father intimately, and trusted that the Father’s plan was the true plan. He trusted the plan and allowed His actions to follow-through of that trust. When we can’t answer the why, the where, or the how, we can answer the WHO.
The Roman cross was nothing compared to the cup of God’s wrath that Jesus endured. He did that for you!
To discuss today
1. Is there something in your life that you do not want to surrender to God? What is it? Why can’t you give that up to Him?
2. When was the last time that you really fell on your face before the Father and let Him fill the God-sized hole in your back? That hole that can only be exposed when you bow before Him?
3. When has the Father revealed His character to you? Do you put your trust in the Lord? How does that show in your life?
Prayer
Father, I praise you for Jesus. Thank you Jesus for taking on the full wrath of the Father and giving me the chance to have eternal life. I want to be completely honest with You. Help me know Your character more and more as I open up to You. Holy Spirit, please teach me the characteristics of my Father through the understanding of Your Word. Jesus, thank you for leading by example and being honest, being humble, and trusting Your Father. I want to whole-heartedly trust Him too. Especially in regards to ____________________.
