Some days, my brain just won't stop until I write things down. This is the result of one of those days. "They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him." (Mark 14:32-35 NIV) In his final hours, Jesus prayed. Yes, He prayed for the cup to pass, but He always came back to "not my will but yours be done." I don't think most people realize how rich this passage is; I know I didn't think much about it till now. Most people, include myself unfortunately, treat prayer like it's a means to an end. As if it causes a result of some kind or another. Whether it be financial blessing, healing, a release of spiritual power, or just for peace of mind, we believe in the power of prayer to affect both the physical and spiritual realities around us. What's wrong with that? Nothing. But is that what prayer IS? Jesus didn't spend his final hours in intense prayer in hopes that it would change something. He asked his friends to stay up and wait for Him, but not to appeal to God on His behalf. He knew there was no other way, otherwise He would have done it. He had that power to change His own fate if He so chose, but He didn't. He didn't even pray for it to be less painful because He knew that would defeat the point. There was no change to be made and He knew that going into it. So what was He praying for? In that question lies the answer. He wasn't. To pray for something is to have a reason or an intended result of the prayer. No, He wasn't praying for anything...He was just praying. Talking to God for the sake of talking to him. Coming into the presence of His beloved father not to receive something He didn't already have or take away something He didn't want, but just to be with Him in His hour of turmoil. To bear His soul in the most honest way possible. "Not my will but yours be done." A contradiction? A loophole? A conundrum? Jesus, while fully human, was fully - in every way - God. One with the father. Yet they had different wills? Somehow they are one in the same and yet in His humanity, Jesus had his own will apart from God's. There was no sin in Him and no separation between His heart and the father's *yet* so how is that possible? The answer: I have no idea. I'm not writing this to teach, but just to share some things God highlighted to me, so please please please take anything and everything to Him because what answers I do have I got from Him anyways. Thought inspiring, though, isn't it? If I were to venture an answer, it would be that perfect unity does not mean being identical. They both loved us so much that He was willing to sacrifice Himself, but that does not mean He didn't feel the strong emotions attached with death. Yet even in the face of torture, execution, and separation from God while in Hell, He did not falter. He poured His heart out to the father and concluded it leaning on His goodness and love even in the face of the worst hardship anyone has ever had to bear. That was the prayer Jesus prayed. And it's not that we are not supposed to ask God for things or expect Him to change the realities around us. In fact, we are to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (Ephesians 6:18 NIV) But see that it says prayers AND requests, not just to only go to God like He is a vending machine. Because let's be honest, if I only interacted with my dad when I was asking for something, we would not have a very close relationship. Instead, I spend lots of time talking with him, sharing my dreams and passions with him, and learning from him and because of that have a very good relationship with him. Like with God or anyone else, my relationship with him has grown with the time spent together just being ourselves without any agenda or expectation of each other. And when I do need something, I know that our relationship is strong enough that I can ask for it and expect that he will give me everything I need. Ok, last one. Jesus prayed. Think about it. If my first point didn't change the way you think about prayer, maybe this will. Him praying was not only for public observation or for the purpose of teaching, it was a real and intimate practice of his most personal and private moments. What does this mean? Well, what is the purpose of prayer? To ask God for things? Jesus didn't need to do that, he had divine power of his own. To get God's heart? He was God, he already had it. To grow closer to God? Maybe...but was there a distance to be crossed? Like I said, He was God. Just to be with Him and be in communication with Him? I think so. To intercede? Interestingly, yes, though that is also interesting when you think about it. We know from the Bible that Jesus stands before the throne of God interceding on our behalf at this very moment (Hebrews 7:25), but what do you think intercession is? Depending on your background, you may have different ideas of what intercession is. The actual definition, though, it to 'mediate on behalf of another.' To speak for them or to argue their case. This is what Jesus, our high priest, does for us before God. Even though they are one, they have different roles. God as a whole is perfect, as is the way the three relate to each other. Every aspect of each of their persons is perfect, yet that does not mean identical. Jesus the high priest and groom goes before the father and judge to present the case of His bride, who has been made clean by His blood. They both love us, yet relate to us in different ways just as we relate to them in different ways. They are in perfect relationship with one another and so communicate perfectly. And what is that model of perfect communication? Prayer. Communion with God. A bringing of our spirits before Him and simply being who we are in His presence and allowing who He is to gently shape us and in so doing, bringing us even closer to Him. Jesus taught it, Jesus lived it, and Jesus continues to in heaven until we are all there with Him.
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