Not my will, but thine, be done

We cannot read these words without reflecting on the deliberate self-will of the first man in another garden. When our blessed Lord breathed ‘not my will’, v. 42, we understand of course that His will was not opposed to the Father’s. Rather His prayer reveals to us His holy dread at the thought of what lay ahead.

Luke’s account of this sacred garden scene contains four unique features which reveal the extent of His sufferings.

Firstly, only Luke tells us that the Lord withdrew from them ‘about a stone’s cast’, v. 41. This intimates that His sufferings would be penal. Stoning was the method of capital punishment among the Jews. What the Lord would bear at Calvary would be penal and judicial, and it could not be shared with any other. He must go that distance alone.

Secondly, only Luke reveals that an angel from heaven appeared, ‘strengthening him’, v. 43. What a demonstration of the true humanity of the Lord Jesus! What privileged angelic service! Here are sufferings which are beyond human bearing and would sap the strength of even the Perfect Man.

Thirdly, only Luke describes the sweat of the Lord in the intensity of His agony, v. 44. Again our minds go back to the sweat resulting from Adam’s fall, Gen. 3. 19. The Lord Jesus is truly associating Himself with the effects of sin on humanity, although Himself remains absolutely sinless. Sweat like blood indicates that this is no normal sweat, but rather proceeds from a deep-seated agony, v. 44. We dare go no further, but simply bow in worship.

Fourthly, only Luke records the words of the Lord, ‘This is your hour, and the power of darkness’, v. 53. Satan personally was involved in the activities of this dark night. Having entered into Judas, v. 3, and demanded Peter, v. 31, he now vents his full fury on the Lord Himself. Satan once defeated the first man in a garden; will he now succeed with the Second Man?

Praise God, the outcome of this contest was never in doubt! John 12. 31. Let His enemies do their worst; let all the powers of hell assail Him: He will never waver from submission to the Father’s will!