Reflection and Awe Lent Series - Not My Will

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed,

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.

Yet not as I will, but as you will.” –Matthew 26:39 (NIV)

In these verses in Matthew 26, we see the fully human part of Christ and the fully God part collide. Jesus was completely aware of what was just around the corner. He knew what He would have to do, what He would have to face and endure. He had a full awareness of why He had to die. As the writer to the Hebrews outlines in Hebrews 12:2, Jesus could see the joy set before Him in the eyes of you and me. And yet, in His humanity, Jesus found this challenging. 

Obedience is hard. It asks of us, demands of us, and costs us. To walk in obedience takes sacrifice. It is servanthood, trust, and sacrifice all rolled into one. Here, we see the greatest example of obedience as Jesus speaks with His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

In our culture today, obedience is seen as a weakness. We have become so concerned with our own rights and preferences that even the concept of doing what someone else wants seems absurd, and this is even more so when what is being asked of us is not easy.

But in Jesus’ obedience, we see a strength—Jesus’ ability to trust the Father in all things, even the hard parts. 

Obedience transforms our mindset from “this is what I’m doing” to “this I must do.” The first mentality wavers with emotions and circumstances, while the second stands firm, rooted in conviction and trust. Jesus didn’t let His feelings or preferences dictate His actions. His mission remained clear: to fulfill the Father’s will and secure our salvation.

How often do we resist God’s call when it feels uncomfortable or inconvenient? How frequently have we stepped back from obedience when the cost felt too high? Yet, what waits on the other side of our obedience?

Imagine if Jesus had said, “No.” What if He had chosen to avoid the cross? Our salvation depended on His obedience to the Father’s plan.

Here's the question: what is waiting on the other side of your obedience?

What if Jesus had said something different at that moment? Instead of saying, “Not my will, but Yours,” He said, “Sorry, Dad, I’m not going to the cross.”

As we approach Easter, reflect on what God asks of you. Where is He calling you to trust Him more deeply? What preferences or fears must you lay down to walk in obedience? Shift your mindset to embrace what you must do for His kingdom.

Someone waits on the other side of your “yes” today. Jesus’ obedience brought eternal life to all who believe. What could your obedience unlock in your life and the lives of others?

Let this week remind you of the beauty and power of saying, “Not my will, but Yours.”