Gethsemane

Gethsemane. This was where He prayed that God’s will would be done, no matter what it cost Himself personally—the pain of beatings and the crucifixion; the agony of separation from the Father; the excruciating filth of the sins of mankind all piled upon Him.

I stood near the rock where it is thought that Jesus began dying–dying to Himself for the sake of the Father’s plan—and the joy that was set before Him.

The realization hit me on this trip to Israel in 1990. As part of our itinerary we visited the Mount of Olives and the place where it was thought the Garden of Gethsemane had been. The olive trees were not from that time as the Romans, when they sacked Jerusalem, had burned all the trees. But this garden was a quiet reminder of the place where Jesus prayed.

On a much diminished scale, I identified with Him. I had died to myself for His sake. I was angry and hurt, but I had prayed that His will might be done in my life–that no matter what the cost to me, I wanted to do things His way. Details I cannot discuss, but details are not really what this was about. It was about the act of dying to myself. It was about yielding my life to Jesus even when it hurt. It was about obeying what I knew He was asking of me.

Have you died yet to yourself? Many people want Jesus to save them from the punishments of Hell, but when it comes to making Him Lord of their personal actions and decisions…well maybe that’s taking it a little too far?

Not so. Jesus said, “If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself—disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests—and take up His cross and follow Me—cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living, and if need be, in dying.” ~ Matthew 16;24

Dying to oneself, making self-denial your lifestyle, is not popular these days. Being assertive and self-promoting is the way of the world. But Jesus’ way is better. It’s not being a doormat for others to wipe their feet on, although that may be how it feels sometimes. Curiously, when you deny yourself for Jesus’ sake, He makes you stronger. It becomes a doorway to a deeper relationship with Him because of your obedience.

Gethsemane: “Not my will, but Yours be done.” It’s not a once for all decision—it needs to be repeated daily. In that act of dying to myself and giving myself up to Him, I have found great freedom; and now, many years later, great blessing.