Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 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].”

– Mark 14:32-36 (NKJV)

I often wrestle with a battle of my wills. I want to eat healthy, lose weight, and save money. I also want to eat high calorie, high sugar foods, and sometimes I have sacrificed money for convenience. The other night I had a choice to make about my meals while I was out of town. I could go by a grocery store, buy some fruit and basics for a healthy meal, walk, and save some money or I could go by a fast food place, spend a little more money on food that was higher calorie and higher fat. I am grateful that this time I chose the extra steps and healthier option. (It’s not always been the case).

Here we see Jesus wrestle with two different wills on a much greater scale. In his flesh, he doesn’t desire the cross, the torment, and the shame that lie ahead of him… but he knows that this is the path that God the Father has laid out for him and so he submits his will to the Father’s will. We can say it was the Father’s will that Jesus go to the cross, but in a sense we can also say that Jesus was willing. This is what submission is, checking our will in order to follow someone else’s.

Oh that we would all submit our wills to God and seek to do his will! Indeed, this is how Jesus taught us to pray in the model prayer, “your will be done.” God’s will is greater and farther reaching than our wills ever are.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. We thank you for Jesus’ prayer in the garden. We thank you for the glimpse of his humanity and his perfect submission to you. We ahve boldness to come to you through what Christ has done and we have an example of how to submit our wills to yours. We ask O’Lord for your will to be done. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.