It was an hour unlike any other, also known as the “Holy Hour.” A group of men had just shared a beautiful Thursday evening full of fellowship and encouragement from their Teacher over the Last Supper. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
A prophecy with a promise.
As our men find their way to an olive grove called Gethsemane; I cannot help but be moved by Jesus’ words as he moved away from the group while asking them to stay with Him. “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”
“Deeply grieved.” This is the same Jesus who just four days prior made a triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday; the same Jesus who wept over the city as He approached.
As we are reminded of the greatest sacrifice ever made, I would like to consider the preface to this action by our Savior. Can we take a moment and join our Messiah in the Garden as He lifted up His greatest desire to the Father? And perhaps catch a glimpse of “WHY” this monumental moment in history took place.
Abba Father, everything is possible for you. If it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.
“May your will be done.” From the beginning of time, Jesus knew this day would come. Sin demanded a price, a price that mankind couldn’t pay. Jesus was the only One who could free humanity from the bondage of sin.
An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. Being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world.” Jesus lived on earth in human form for 33 years, three of these spent revealing His Father to those placed in His path. Why? “That they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” Salvation is more than just Heaven, salvation is a changed life, a life full of joy. Jesus walked with these men, had fellowship with them and yes taught them the way to a joyful life.
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
“That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.“ My very favorite part! Why? Jesus is praying for ME! He is praying for YOU! And His desire was for all of us to be one, one with each other, one with Jesus, one with The Father, one with The Holy Spirit. This is why He laid down His Divine Nature and took on human flesh. This is why He made a CHOICE to take our place. This is why He suffered and died, because He wanted to be one with us.
Father I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.
“The glory you have given me because you loved me.” Two thousand years speak to the Glory of God. Life after life redeemed and restored to the Father. And today, we have the opportunity to personally give Glory to our Father as we seek Him and show the world that He loves them just as He loves us!
Jesus did it all for Love.
The greatest prayer ever spoken, full of intense anguish, gives us insight into the Heart of One who laid down a crown of glory for a crown of thorns so that we would choose to dwell with Him eternally.
Jesus, thank You for the greatest prayer ever spoken that gives us insight into Your Heart. As we celebrate Your resurrection, may we all recognize The Greater Love that You have for each of us, individually and corporately. May we peer into Your heart and see our name, may we realize the unconditional love shown at the Cross is FOR US. May we share Your Glory with all that You place in our path so they too will know eternity with You!
In Your Precious Name
AMEN
“Greater love has no one than this; that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Do you have a friend who needs to know the Love of Jesus?
John 15:13 / Matthew 26 / Matthew 27 / Mark 14 / Mark 15 / Luke 22 / Luke 23 / John 17 / John 19