Agony In the Garden

To: All who believe in the cross. After supper, in the garden, Jesus agonized over His destiny. Mark, says He petitioned the Father asking Him to 'take this cup away from me.' Luke describes further how, after praying 'If it be your will let this cup pass from me, yet not my will, but thine be done,’ an angel was seen ministering to Him. Afterwards, He prayed more and his sweat became as great drops of blood falling to the ground. I have wondered -- what could He have feared? Oh, I know He was perfect man and, perhaps, dreaded the pain of an agonizing death. But, I can't believe this would have brought such pleas from him. No, I have come to the conclusion He feared the agony of paying the only price that would redeem mankind. He was not concerned with the pain of dying, even though his pain was intensified many times over by the sins for which He was dying -- all the sins for all mankind. How awesome the pain must have been. But He could handle this. What He was not prepared to face was separation from God the Father. On the cross He cried out, ‘My God, why hast thou forsaken me?' And the answer rings down through the ages and into eternity. -- So you and I will never have to suffer the pain of separation from Him. Author's Comments: "This came to me one Good Friday a few years ago. Though it is not the Easter season, I believe it is worthy of note at any time. My faith is based on what happened for all mankind at Calvary. "Jesus paid a debt He did not owe... because we owed a debt we could not pay." Major Ian Thomas