Lord's Day Devotion - Not My Will But Yours

 

One of the saddest verses in the Bible is the one where Peter goes out and weeps bitterly when he realizes at the crucial moment what he had done to Jesus.  He had denied three times that he knew Jesus (see Matthew 26:75 ESV).

He had been so confident earlier in the day and even stood up to try to defend Jesus with his sword, cutting off the ear of one of the high priest's servants.  Even before that he had told Jesus,

"Even if I must die with You, I will not deny You!"

Truly, the 1 Corinthians 10:12 verse resonates here in Peter's case, as well as it could in ours,

"Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall."

Peter meant well.  His heart was in the right place.  He really did love Jesus and saw Him as more than a good friend.  He was, in fact, the first to declare,

"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16).

Earlier that fateful day of Jesus' arrest, Jesus took His disciples to Gethsemane to pray.  They could not keep their eyes opened to accompany Jesus in His monumental prayers.

Jesus, as fully man knew what he was facing and spoke with His Father about it. 

 "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me ..." (Matthew 26:39).

Disciples, where were you!  Where was the prayer support for your beloved friend going through such a sorrowful struggle!?

Yet, Jesus in His submission to God His father says, 

"Not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39).

Then Jesus goes back to His disciples and sees them sleeping and says particularly to Peter,

"So you could not watch with me one hour?  Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.  The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:40-41).

Jesus goes back and talking with His Father, says,

"My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done" (Matthew 26:42).

I wonder if what He said to Peter, was also speaking to Himself at those moments of agony of soul.  He knew human flesh was weak but praise the Lord, Jesus is also fully God, and He was able to overcome any temptation to not go through with the act that enabled our salvation; that is, His cruel death on the cross and subsequent resurrection from the dead.

For Peter, his flesh was definitely weak, and he hadn't been praying and despite his spirit being willing to not deny he knew Jesus, he succumbed.  He hadn't taken heed and therefore he fell.  When he 'wakes up,' he goes out and weeps bitterly.

This can happen to us too.  The remedy is to be prayful and submissive to the Lord in our everyday moments of life.  When we do fall, there is recourse.  Like Peter who was later restored by Jesus and given a mission, we too can take heart from his example (see John 21:15-17).  It's such a touching scene.  Private moments with Jesus.  There was hope for Peter and there's hope for us today.  Because Jesus lives, we can face tomorrow and claim,

"I do know Him.  Jesus is my Savior and Friend".

This Lord's day, let's rejoice together as we partake of the broken bread and drink from the cup of wine.  These symbols of Jesus' death and resurrection that brought us life and His Holy Spirit.  Let us be reminded of his great love and empowerment through His submissive act of love for all human kind,

"Not my will but Yours, Father."  

His Holy Spirit empowers our weak flesh and spirit to acknowledge Jesus before others.

Give Him Your thanks, praise and worship.

Jesus, in Your name we give You our heartfelt thanks.  You did not let Your human flesh hold You back from Your mission of saving our souls.  Thank You for following through to the bitter end.  Your death brought us life.  Thank You, Jesus!  We want to live for You but we can only do so by Your Holy Spirit empowerment.  Thank You for Your love, grace and mercy.  Amen.

                                                ~ ERC  June 2025 ~

Based on Matthew 26:69-75 and 1 Corinthians 10:12 and Matthew 26:41 ESV.

Sing, Death Has No Power, along with Jeremy Camp.