The Sting of Guilt

And He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:41-42 (nkjv)

Thursday was an eventful day. The disciples were making Passover preparations and securing a room where they would share their last meal together. This was the most important of all festivals—commemorating the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, by way of the final plague, the killing of the firstborn. At that supper, Jesus gave them His parting words, washed their feet as an example of servanthood, and instituted the Lord’s Supper, which was the New Covenant. As the reader follows the story, an ominous mood can be sensed. From the Upper Room, they walked to the Garden of Gethsemane, where they often went to pray. It is here where the plot to murder Jesus would culminate with His arrest (see Luke 22:39-53).

Jesus began to fervently pray, knowing that His time was soon approaching. He asked the disciples to “watch” with Him, or pray with him, but their eyes were heavy and they could not. It is here where Jesus, all alone, faced the cup that He would drink. He prayed that if it were possible, God would deliver Him, yet He prayed for God’s will to be done.

This cup was not only His crucifixion, but the dreaded separation from His Father. In this cup was all the sin of the world. Can we comprehend this? The sinless Lamb of God was bearing the guilt of all the sin of the world. That cup was repulsive to Jesus—in it were the sins of murder, perverse immoralities, and indescribable wickedness. Jesus faced an assault of every demon from hell, urging Him to refuse this cup, thereby aborting His mission. But, strengthened by an angel, Jesus drank of that cup, and then He faced His accusers.

It is at this point we must remember that Jesus was not a victim of a murderous plot. He came to this earth for this purpose and gave His life; it was not taken from Him. He could have called the armies from heaven to intervene, if He so desired. But He said to those who came against Him, “This is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53, nkjv). He would soon suffer for the guilt of the sin of the world in the darkest of all dark hours.

Lord Jesus, You were willing to drink that cup for me. You were willing to suffer all the guilt for the sin of mankind. I praise You and thank You for Your great incomprehensible love, which caused You to come into this world and die my death, that I might live Your life. Amen.