“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.” – Luke 22:39-43
The Mount of Olives has been a Jewish cemetery for over 3000 years and holds over 150,000 graves. This is a place that Jesus visited quite often for refuge and reflection. Of all the places Jesus could have chosen as a site to retreat to, why did he choose a cemetery. Why didn’t Jesus go to the temple, a nice park, or near the Sea of Galilee but a cemetery.
At this point in Jesus’ ministry, he has made a name for himself by living out the mandate he set in Luke 4:16-19 of “proclaiming the good news to the poor, proclaiming freedom to the captives, recovering the sight of the blind, setting the oppressed free, and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor.” Jesus had acquired many followers and enemies. Jesus has moved from being the obscure son of a carpenter and virgin and to the face of a new movement where God’s love is the center. Jesus is story is sounding real Drakeish because he can honestly say that “I started from the bottom now I’m here.” Jesus started his life being born in a feeding trough in a barn. Now he is on a collision course with the Jewish religious and Roman governmental authorities who feel threatened by his prominence. Jesus with all the notoriety surrounding him retreats to his quiet place. He visits the place where he is reminded of his mission and submission. Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives to kill his will. He goes to the cemetery that is the Mount of Olives to bury his will.
The journey that is life we be filled with its share of success and failure. Success can bring fame, accolades, and attention. We see where we have started and where God has brought us and we can begin to feel good about the work we have accomplished. As the compliments come we can sometimes lose ourselves and get tired of being humble. Not only can we lose ourselves but we can being to lose our way and not focus on the work God has called us to. We can begin to think less about God’s will and give more attention to our agenda.
I want to encourage to visit your own Mount of Olives and bury your will daily. Escape the noise of praise and accolades and find a quiet place. Jesus in the Gethsemane moment wanted God to consider his will. “If you are willing, take this cup from me.” Jesus looked to God to see if he would think about what Jesus wanted for a second. Jesus didn’t want the cup. Jesus wanted to hang around a little while longer, but he had the faith to say “yet not my will but yours be done.” There are things we want to do with our lives. We have ambitions and hopes. My ambition was to be a sports agent or work on Wall Street. I had big dreams for myself, but just like Jesus I had to bury my will and pick up God’s will. I had to say “yet not my will but yours be done.” Don’t be afraid to surrender to God’s will. We are encouraged to know that when we submit and surrender to God’s will, God will send us angels to strengthened us as we embark on the journey.
#ConsiderThis
Consider This... 