Jesus receives the cross from His Father
Matthew 26:36-46 NKJV
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So, He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
Isaiah 53:10-11 NKJV
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.
When you think of the wrath of God, you should think of God’s unalterable hatred for sin and all the ways in which it mars, spoils, defaces, and ruins his good creatures and creation. That’s what God’s wrath is – his settled hatred for and constant hostility towards the cancer of sin and evil. And, apart from Christ, that includes the evil at work in us. To continue in it unchecked and unrepentant invites wrath . . . For all those who will receive it, Jesus will drink the cup of God’s wrath for sin. But we drink the cup of fellowship and communion with our Lord. If we are willing, each of us may have the cup of sin and judgment removed – true joy can begin!
(Justin D. Clemente, “At the Cross,” p. 9)
Sing to Jesus, Lord of our shame
Lord of our sinful hearts
He is our great Redeemer
Sing to Jesus, honor His name
Sing of His faithfulness
Pouring His life out unto death
(Fernando Ortega)
Sing to Jesus
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
