John 15:18-17:26; Luke 22:39-46; Mark 14:32-42; Matthew 26:36-46

Jesus prayed for me the night he was betrayed. I am one who has believed in Jesus through the disciples’ message. Jesus prayed that I would be one with him, he in me so that the world will recognize Jesus through me. He prayed that I would be one with fellow believers to let the world know that God sent Jesus and loves us like he loves his own Son. Jesus prayed for me. And he prayed for you, too.

Then he went to Gethsemane and prayed some more. He was deeply distressed and troubled, overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. He was in anguish and his sweat poured out like drops of blood. Exhausted, feverish, with no strength left he prayed, Father let this hour pass. Don’t let me die here. Give me the strength to get through the next few hours so I can go to the cross and save these people I love so much. But that’s what I want, Father If you want me to die here so be it. Not my will but Thine.

Are you a parent? When you held your son or daughter in your arms for the first time, did the realization hit you that you would absolutely die for that precious one? Have you knelt at the bedside of your critically ill child and begged God to let you change places? Would you have gladly taken the cancer that is killing your child into your own body so that your child could live?

I believe that is what we are witnessing here as Jesus is praying to the Father in Gethsemane. I don’t believe Jesus was having second thoughts about going to the cross or getting anxious about what was in store for him. I don’t believe he was talking about the cross at all. I think he was praying for himself in that moment, right there in the garden. If we, as imperfect parents would willingly trade places with our dying children, how much more Jesus. He knew that if he didn’t go to the cross to pay for our sins, we would have to pay for them ourselves. And he wanted to spare us the pain. He loved us that much.

God answered Jesus’ prayer that night and sent an angel to strengthen him for what lay ahead. Jesus rose from his place of prayer, woke his disciples, and faced his betrayer.

Dearest Jesus, words cannot express what is in my heart right now. Thank you doesn’t come close to saying what I want to say about what you did for me that night so long ago. And to think that as you were facing unspeakable cruelty at the hands of those who wanted you dead, you stopped and prayed for me. I love you for taking my place, for paying what I could not pay, for loving me all the way to the cross. I praise you. I adore you. I gladly accept you into my heart. And, Jesus, I look forward to telling you that face to face some day.