In The Garden: Thank You, Jesus

Gethsemane

 ³⁹And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

 ⁴⁰And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

 ⁴¹And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

 ⁴²Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

 ⁴³And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

 ⁴⁴And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

 ⁴⁵And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

 ⁴⁶And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

It's Thankful Thursday, and, as my husband asked me to read this portion of Scripture, and the rest of Luke 22, this morning in our Family Devotions my heart felt the vulnerability of the Lord and his humanity, even as He is God and Christ.  He has felt every emotion, every pain, every human experience which I will ever experience.  He came to earth. He lived. He suffered. He gave. He served. That is His character. That is Who He is.


But one thing stands out to me today. He could have said, "No." Enough. I'm not going there. Don't want to, don't have to, you can't make me. They're not worth it. There must be a better way. Send someone else.


But my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ suffered. Agony. Needed comfort and strength from an angel in His deepest need. Asked God to take the cup away. But in the end He went. He died. He was the Man. He was and is the Savior. He loved. He loves. He gave more than anyone before. More than anyone now or ever.


He finished the work that needed to be done. There is nothing more to do. Nothing more needed. "It is finished." As I look to the cross, in anticipation of the tomb and the resurrection, I pause here in the garden to say, "Thank You, Jesus."


(To participate and read other thankful hearts, visit Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage. Thanks, Lynn, for hosting this month.)