Anguishing Obedience

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Luke 22:39-53 (ESV)

Jesus just had His Last Supper with the disciples, announced Judas' betrayal, and has now come with the disciples for His final moments of freedom to spend it in a place He knew well: Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives. Gethsemane means "oil press", which is fitting, as Jesus is under the pressure of His anointing: to fulfill His sacrificial role for our sin. Here, we witness Jesus anguishing under the pressure of His calling, fully aware of the emotional toll of obedience. And yet, He remains faithful, offering us a pattern for our own moments of anguish and surrender.

Step 1: Go to the place of seclusion with the Lord. Biblically, olive trees represent "peace". Jesus brought Himself to a familiar place with His Father, even in His emotional anguish, where His environment was at peace. He did not bring others into His emotional turmoil and frenzy the disciples, rather He invited them into the same peace, both in location and in prayer.

Step 2: Petition the Lord. He told the disciples how to pray (vs 40), before beginning to pray Himself. And when He began to pray, He kept it honest: "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done." Jesus kept his petition open but was resigned to obedience regardless.

Step 3: Allow the Lord to minister to you. As Jesus was praying, an angel came and strengthened Him. Yet, He was still in anguish, even after the angel appears, it says that His sweat has become like droplets of blood. But instead of rejecting His situation or His sustaining, it says that it leads Him to pray more fervently, eventually to the point that He is able to leave His space and check on the disciples.

Step 4: Don't let chaos or circumstances drive your response. Jesus was in the midst of deep betrayal and hurt: His disciples didn't follow His last command to pray, Judas has just come to publicly betray Him, and a disciple (Peter) has drawn a sword and cut off a man's ear. Talk about peace to chaos, He even calls this out in verses 52-53. Yet, Jesus doesn't blow up, He doesn't lash out, instead, He remains calm and even heals an enemy.

Obedience isn’t painless—it’s pressing.

Jesus knew what it meant to agonize over a call but still remain faithful to obedience regardless of hardship. Faith and obedience is never easy. Rather it requires a death: death of self, comfort, and control. But the Father doesn't ask us to die alone. He meets us in the Mount of Olives, where He transforms our prayerful surrender into peaceful resolve to answer His calling.

What's beautiful about this demonstration in the "oil press" is that this is where the real battle was fought - the battle of will. This is were we will all find ourselves as we continue on the faith journey with the Lord, daily picking up our cross and following Jesus (Luke 9:23). And miraculously, on the other side of this daily death, is a daily resurrection in Him as we reflect more and more of His image and less of our own (2 Corinthians 3:18).

So today, let me ask you:

What is the emotional death you are agonizing over? Have you yet taken it to your Heavenly Father who is ready to give you sustaining peace in the midst of obedience? Take time to seclude yourself in a quiet place with God. Be honest with Him. Expect Him to give you what you need to endure the trial you are facing and to overcome with the same power that raised Jesus from the grave.

"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." Romans 8:11 (ESV)

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve anguished over Your call in ways that did not bring me to You in prayer. I repent, and I desire to spend time with You to receive Your sustaining strength. Teach me how to come to You first.

Jesus, thank You for Your demonstration of obedience in the garden and for inviting me to follow You. Help me not to resist or begrudge the growth process You're walking me through. May Your will be done in my life instead of my own.

Thank You for the anointing and calling You've placed on me. Please build my faith and trust in You, no matter what my circumstances may be. Thank You for sending me a Helper—Your Holy Spirit. Help me to hear His voice clearly and follow His promptings throughout today.

Amen.