The Night Before the Cross - The Crosswalk Devotional - April 2

Audio By Carbonatix

The Night Before the Cross
By: Whitney Hopler 

Bible Reading:
“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” – Matthew 26:36-39, NIV

When I visited Israel and Palestine on a pilgrimage trip, I was moved to tears by the ancient olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane. Since olive trees regenerate, they can live for many generations. Some of those trees with the wide, twisted branches were descendants of the trees that were there when Jesus prayed in the garden the night before going to the cross. I imagined Jesus in agony there, knowing he would be crucified the next day and have to take the burden of all sin from his creation onto himself. No one had ever had such a heavy burden to carry in this fallen and broken world. 

Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to “stay here and keep watch with me.” He simply wanted the comfort of having his friends nearby. Jesus shows us that needing other people is an important part of being human. Even though his friends eventually let him down and fell asleep, the human part of Jesus reached out for their support. The divine part of Jesus knew that people are meant to encourage one another. 

Then, Jesus prayed: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.” He didn’t want to go through the excruciating physical pain of being crucified, but even more than that, he didn’t want the spiritual weight of carrying the world’s mistakes. He was completely honest with God when he asked if there was a way out. This is so encouraging for us today! It shows us we can tell God exactly how we feel, even when we’re dealing with difficult emotions. We don’t have to pretend to be happy when we’re actually sad, or to be peaceful when we’re actually terrified. God can handle our honest prayers about our most challenging feelings. 

But then, the story changes. After asking God the Father to change the plan if possible, Jesus added those famous words: “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus prayed with total trust. He knew that God’s will was best. Jesus trusted God’s plan more than he trusted his own human fear. His love for God and for humanity inspired him to let go of his will so he could do God’s will for us. 

We all have our own Garden of Gethsemane experiences – those times when we’re facing situations we don’t want to happen, and feel overwhelmed by them. But when we face those challenges, we can remember how Jesus prayed on the night before going to the cross. Jesus is a Savior who understands our sadness. He shows us that God isn’t afraid of our honesty. Most importantly, Jesus shows us how we can trust God’s plans for us, even while we’re challenged by those plans. The night before the cross was the darkest night in history, but it was also the night that proved just how much Jesus loves us! 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider how you can be honest with God about your hard feelings and still trust God’s plans for you, reflect on these questions:

• When you’re going through a hard time, why is it important to you to reach out to friends or family?
• Jesus was “overwhelmed with sorrow” on the night before the cross. How does knowing that Jesus experienced so much emotional pain change the way you feel comfortable talking to him in prayer?
• Is there something in your life right now that you’re asking God to take away? If God keeps that in your life anyway, what will help you trust God in that situation?
• What makes it challenging to say: “Not as I will, but as you will” in your current circumstances?
• How does Jesus’ surrender in the garden give you hope for the difficult situations you’re facing? 

Further Reading:
Philippians 2:8
Luke 22:44
Isaiah 53:3
Psalm 34:18
Hebrews 4:15

Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.

Photo Credit: GettyImages/salajean 

Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com! 

Listen to the Jesus Calling Podcast!

Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today, we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of winter. As the days grow shorter and the night longer, we are offered a rare gift: permission to stop. This season can be a challenging time for many, and if you are struggling with low spirits, please know you are not alone, and help is available. This episode is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that happens when we simply let ourselves rest in the stillness. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow Jesus Calling on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!