A Word from Bob: You’re reading Part 3 of a 3-part blog mini-series on Grief and Jesus. You can read Part 1 here: “Man of Sorrows.” And Part 2 here: “Watch with Me.” These posts come from my 31-day devotional from P&R Publishing: Grief: Walking with Jesus.
“And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’ Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’ So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.”
(Matthew 26:39, 42, 44)
Holy Need for Our Heavenly Father
What do we do when grief emotionally overwhelms us to the point of death (day one in our journey with Jesus in the Garden)?
What do we do when others disappoint us by abandoning us in our grief (day two in our grief journey with Jesus)?
We learn the answer to these questions from Jesus in day three: we cry out to God in holy need for him as our heavenly Father.
When Jesus expressed his sorrow to his disciples, they slumbered and abandoned him. They are so unlike his Father who never slumbers or sleeps; who never leaves us or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:6). The disciples could not be there for Jesus even for one hour in his darkest hour.
What do we do when those who should love us best, fail us most in our darkest hour? Like Jesus, we should fall on our face and pray, saying, “My Father who art in heaven…”
While we need one another, the only One we can count on to be eternally faithful is our heavenly Father.
Holy Honesty with Our Heavenly Father
What does Jesus pray? “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…”
We remember from John 12:27-28 that Jesus knew that he came to earth for this very hour, for this very reason, for this very cup. Yet, he prays with holy honesty…if it be possible…
Can we be this honest with our desires? “If it be possible, take this grief from me.”
Holy Submission to Our Heavenly Father
Can we be this humble with our submission? “Not my will, but yours be done.”
In the vortex of his horrible sorrow, in the tsunami of his disciples’ abandonment (and betrayal…and rejection), we witness our suffering Savior’s holy submission to his heavenly Father. “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
We often follow the false belief that life is either/or: either we are honest with our desires or we reverently submit to God’s will. Jesus models the both/and truth:
- We can be honest with our desires: “Father, if it is possible, please restore what is lost. Please return my prodigal child. Please reconcile my marriage. Please completely heal me from my past trauma…”
- And we can be humble in our submission: “Father, but if this grief cannot pass, if this circumstance cannot change, if my emotions will not be totally healed until heaven, then I submit my will to your wise and loving will. I surrender all.”
Applying Gospel Truth to Your Grief Journey
Holy Need for Our Heavenly Father: In your grief today, what would it mean to fall on your face before your heavenly Father in holy need?
Holy Honesty with Our Heavenly Father: Pray the desires of your heart. What do you want to be different? Humbly share those wants with your listening Abba, Father.
Holy Submission to Our Heavenly Father: Pray Jesus’ prayer of surrender about your grief, loss, and suffering. “Not my will, but yours be done.”
