Gethsemane - the cost

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22: 39 - 44

There was no other way, no other way for us to be free. Jesus loves us so much and wants us to be free, to spend forever with him, so there was no other way. Only a perfect sacrifice, only a man could make the way for sinful people like you and me to be saved from our sinfulness, shame and guilt. And I hear Jesus say, ‘It was worth it.’  

The victory of Calvary was first won in Gethsemane, that place of ultimate submission to the will of God. It was a garden of prayer, somewhere Jesus and his disciples had used before but here, on that night, the full weight of yielding to the will of God, to fulfil his destiny as Saviour of the world rested on Jesus, and it was a weight almost too heavy to bear. 

Everyone in first century Palestine would have known and seen crucifixion, the most barbaric form of execution. The weight of that on any man would have been crushing but to know that his death would mean taking the sin of the world on himself, the wrath of God falling on him. That terrible punishment, freely taken in our place, would lead to separation from his heavenly Father that was so excruciating that Jesus sweated drops like blood. Jesus begged for this cup to be taken from him but knowing it had to be done, he yielded to the Father’s will. 

Jesus knew the cost and he did it. He didn’t make excuses. He knew he was about to be betrayed, abandoned, and denied by those closest to him and still he surrendered because it was for people just like his disciples that he was doing it. Those he loved, weak and vulnerable people like you and me. The depth of love that took Jesus to the cross is almost incomprehensible. 

Our only response has to be, ‘thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all eternity, thank you.’ Again, I see him smile with such love and hear him say, ‘It was worth it.’