AN IMPORTANT PRAYER
MARK 14:33-36
MARK 14:33-36 NKJV
33 And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. 34 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch."
35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 36 And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."
OBSERVATION:
Jesus was the Son of God and the Son of man during His time on earth. Because He was son of man, He had to deal with emotions and feelings just as we do.
This passage is right before His arrest and crucifixion. He has gone to the garden of Gethsemane with His disciples to pray.
If Jesus had been operating solely as God, the cross would not have troubled Him. But in the garden, He became troubled and deeply distressed. Not only would He bear the sins of mankind but also the physical pain of the cross. We have no idea what He suffered from a spiritual and physical standpoint.
The prayer that Jesus prayed during this time before the cross is called a prayer of consecration and dedication.
He asked the Father if the cup could pass from Him. The cup of the cross. But Jesus' prayer did not stop there. He added the most important part. "Not what I will but what You will."
Jesus was submitting His will to the will of God regardless of what it would cost Him. This prayer is important to us because it is vital to our salvation. Without this dedication to complete the will of God, we would not be saved. Not what I will, but what you will, was the prayer that purchased our freedom.
APPLICATION:
This prayer of consecration and dedication is an important prayer for us today.
When we are praying about God's will and plan for our life, this is the prayer.
Joy almost married another man when she was in college. But right before things got too serious, she asked God about His plan for her and prayed not my will but Your will. God had a different plan for Joy that thankfully included me.
I didn't want to start a church seeing that it didn't work for me the first time. But I was willing to pray that prayer, not my will but Your will. That prayer helped pave the way for The Ark Church.
When praying particularly about decisions that are important, this is the prayer to pray. We want God's will for us despite feelings that can run contrary.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, in terms of how I live my life, I desire that not my will but yours be done.