VICTORY THROUGH SURRENDER
Matthew 26:36-46
For Jesus "the point of no return" came in the Garden of Gethsemane. There Jesus uttered the most important prayer we can offer:
"Yet not as I will, but as you will" (v. 39).Dr. E. Stanley Jones observed, "Everybody surrenders - surrenders to something, someone or [the Savior]."
2The Bible says, "During the days of Jesus' life on earth he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission" (Heb. 5:7).
THE PLACE OF OPENNESS
On the eve of crisis, Jesus prayed alone, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me" (Matt. 26:39).
Sometimes God's direction for us demands high cost.
There's no reason to pretend that genuine discipleship is lighthearted and easy.
The high cost of discipleship is exceeded only by the high cost of low living!
Jesus knew He must drink the cup of death in order for His men to drink the cup of life!
Jesus based His openness to God on a trusting relationship.
THE PLACE OF BROKENNESS
The Hebrew word "Gethsemane" means "olive mill" or "olive press."
It pleased the Father to bruise Him and crush Him so that the fresh oil of the Holy Spirit might soon flow to all who believe on Him.
"I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. . . . I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support" (Isaiah 63:3, 5).
If we expect to reign with Him in glory, we should not be surprised to suffer with Him at the cross.
The apostle Paul exclaimed, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death" (Phil. 3: 10). He will give us grace and glory!
Jesus demonstrated that there is a place of brokenness before God.
Matthew described it: "And he began to be sorrowful and troubled" (26:37).
The Master cried out to His intimate companions, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me" (v. 38).
God can't fully use us until our proud, unyielding, unteachable self is broken.
Paul admonishes, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5).
THE PLACE OF YIELDEDNESS
Jesus prayer of surrender wasn't just for that moment - the present crisis - but it is a yieldedness as a way of life.
A person doesn't say, "Not my will, but yours be done" only in the Gethsemanes of life but must learn to pray it through all of life's trials and decisions.
The attitude in which you say "Your will be done" makes a difference.
You can say "Thy will be done" with the joyful assent of perfect trust and obedience.
Jesus yielded in order to follow God's purposes for His life - and ours.
The place of surrender is never easy. The cross demands sacrifice.
"My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done" (Matt. 26:42; cf. Luke 22:42).
"An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him" (Luke 22:43).
Maurice Hall, former missionary to Africa, wrote in his Bible many years ago: "Dear God: Anything, anywhere, anytime, somehow!"