This part of Jesus’ life began in a garden. He was at His absolute weakest point ever, even more vulnerable than in the wilderness after fasting for 40 days. Matthew and Mark describe Jesus as grieving and depressed; Luke adds, “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”
His 3 best friends fell asleep on Him at His most needful hour. He cried out to His Father,
“Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will but what you will.” His Father told Him, “NO.”
He was alone and exhausted throughout the night as He endured illegal trials, evil lawyers, wicked judges and lying witnesses. Then in the midst of it all, as if that wasn’t enough, a rooster crowed and He turned to stare into the eyes of Peter, knowing that His most out-spoken disciple had just denied Him 3 times. Alone and with each passing moment even more alone.
The flogging followed in the daylight, ripping the flesh of His back into pieces; then the final pronouncement: CRUCIFY HIM! He tried carrying His own cross, but discovered that try as He may, He could not. With help He arrived at Golgotha where soldiers, nails, a hammer and a cross awaited, along with a few friends, His mother and a host of sneering, mocking enemies.
The crucifixion time, as the heavenly Passover sacrifice, had arrived. Immeasurable agony and torture filled the next 6 hours. His only relief would be His final breath.
Jesus said of His Father, in His prayer in the garden, “everything is possible for you”. Was He right? YES, He was. Father God could have stopped the murder of His Only Begotten Son. Then WHY DIDN’T HE?
Jesus once told a group of Pharisees that no one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. Was that right, did Jesus lay His life down freely? YES, He did. Now combine that with Jesus’ words to Peter in the garden, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” Is that true? Could Jesus have called on Michael and his heavenly warriors to stop His agony? YES, that’s true. Then WHY DIDN’T HE?
So if Father God could have stopped it, but HE DIDN’T and Jesus could have stopped it, but HE DIDN’T, WHY? They both could have stopped all of this agony and torture and murder. WHY DIDN’T THEY?
YOU are why. If Father God rescued His Son that day on Calvary, you would have no Savior to surrender to, who can offer you forgiveness and mercy and salvation.
YES, YOU are why. If Jesus had cried out to His Father for angelic help, you would have none of God’s grace and no eternal heavenly home.
That is how much you are worth to Father God; that is how much you are worth to Jesus, the Redeemer, the sacrificial Lamb of God.
How dare you ever think you are worthless. Heaven’s price tag on you is the BODY and BLOOD of JESUS. Figure out what those two items are worth and you will know your worth to the Father and the Son. And if your opinion of your worth is different than that, then YOU ARE WRONG!
Mike Sublett is a pastor at Hi-Land Christian Church, 1615 N. Banks St., Pampa, Texas 79065. Email him at pawdad@nts-online.net.
