(2) We see JESUS IN STRUGGLE

Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me…” (26:39).

We see Jesus’ struggle. The humanity part of Him will cry out against such a pain. Yet His spirit longs to obey His Father’s will. The flesh do not want to go to the cross, but His spirit wants to accomplish the Father’s plan to save the world.

Jesus experienced such a struggle. And He was honest to the Father. There was no covering up or acting tough. What we see in Jesus was total honesty. He shares what is really on His heart! So don’t act tough… Jesus didn’t. Share our struggles with God.

To stand strong, we need to pray. That’s why Jesus said to Peter, “You have to watch and pray… because the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (v.41). Very often, the flesh (the old self) will tells us to do things our own way, against God’s will. But our spirit knows the will of God and we want to do it right. Jesus says, “Watch and pray, so that you will not fall into temptation.” (v.41). That’s the formula – watch and pray, and we will not gratify the desires of our flesh.

THIS WAS MORE THAN JUST A PHYSICAL STRUGGLE, it was a spiritual struggle. Jesus wasn’t thinking just about the nails piercing through His hands and feet. Because in His death, He would be taking on the sin of all humanity.

Isaiah 53:5-6 He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The weight upon His shoulders wasn’t physical weight – it was the weight of your sins and mine! In plain words, it’s your fault! Our sins sent Him up the cross!

These words by describes the scene very well:

“The final encounter of the battle has begun. As Jesus looks at the city of Jerusalem, He sees what the disciples can’t… He sees the Evil One preparing for the final encounter… Hell is breaking loose… History records it as a battle of the Jews against Jesus. It wasn’t…. It was a battle of God against Satan. AND JESUS KNEW IT. He knew that before the war was over, he would be taken captive. He knew that before victory would come defeat. He knew that before the throne would come the cup. He knew that before the light of Sunday would come the blackness of Friday… AND HE IS AFRAID.”

It’s like soldiers moving into war. No one will feel good at such a time. How did Jesus respond?