Our Suffering Savior

Read: Luke 22:39-46



My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? --- Psalm 22:1






It was late on the Thursday evening of Passover week. Jesus was
with His disciples at one of His favorite retreats --- the Garden of
Gethsemane. In great emotional distress, He admonished the disciples to
pray for strength to remain loyal to Him. He removed Himself a short
distance from them and prayed, "Father, if it is Your will, take this
cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done" [Luke
22:42].



The "cup" from which Jesus asked to be delivered was not death. He
came to die for us. I think the cup represents the frightful alienation
from His Father that would lead to His cry on the cross: "My God, My
God, why have You forsaken Me?" [Matt. 27:46].



In the garden, He must have been anticipating that time when His
Father would turn His back on Him. The coming of the angel assured Him
that He was not alone. Yet the reality of the Father's imminent
withdrawal from Him was foremost in His thoughts. He would be taking
our sin on Himself and enduring the awesome aloneness of the cross.
This realization drove Jesus to pray with so much intensity that "His
sweat became like great drops of blood" [Luke 22:44].



And what's even more amazing is the truth that Jesus endured this suffering for you and me! --- Herb Vander Lugt



Here I give myself to Thee,

Soul and body, Thine to be;

It was for me Thy blood was shed

On the cross of Calvary. --- Anon.



THE DEATH OF CHRIST IS THE MEASURE OF GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU.

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