Hans Sangtoki Bible Reading: Mark 14:32-42
“And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36)
As Easter approaches, let us meditate once again on the person of Christ and what He did for us on the cross. Ask God to reveal to each one of us more about Himself that we may grow in knowing Him and His love.
Who was Christ at Gethsemane? This is a very profound question with answers that flow from the wells of the abundance of Scripture. Yet, I would like to highlight only one aspect.
Christ at Gethsemane was an obedient Christ. At Gethsemane, once again, we see Christ’s humility. He continued to humble Himself before the will of God to drink the cup of wrath. As Jesus prayed with a sorrowful and troubled soul, the words of Isaiah 53 come alive. “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4).
When we look at Christ in His suffering, we ought to see the depravity of our sins. The grief and sorrow He bore was the grief and sorrow of our sin. See the serious evil of our sins that brought Jesus to suffer and die.
Yet, at the same time, see Christ’s obedience and love to the Father. Isaiah 53:10 says, “Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief.” Christ came to die because He obeyed the will of His Father. The will of the Father is the salvation of our souls from our sins. It is the reconciliation of God and us. To this end, Jesus came and suffered and died. He lived the perfect life without sin to be the Passover Lamb that takes the punishment for our sins.
At Gethsemane, see how much Christ loved us. He did not have to bear God’s wrath. He was perfect and holy without sin. Yet, in humility, He humbled Himself even to death on the cross for our sins so that we can be accounted righteous before God. Indeed He was glorified by the Father to the highest place.
What is our response to such love? Do we humbly bow in repentance and surrender to Christ our Lord?
Lord, thank You for Your love. Please forgive me when I forget about Your love. Please forgive me when I turn away from Your love. Because You first loved me, help me to love You. Teach me to grow in Your love and teach me to grow in knowing Your love and Your truth. Make me Your humble servant and disciple. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Hans Sangtoki (18) is the coordinator of RE Generation Z. He has a passion for serving his generation and sharing hope in Christ. He also has an interest in classical music and dreams of conducting an orchestra one day.