Lord's Day Devotion - Sinful Shoes (Luke 22:37-54 ESV)

 It is so ironic that just a short spell after Jesus told Peter He prayed for him (see Luke 22:31-132 ESV), that He asked the disciples to watch and pray with Him up there on the Mt of Olives.  Jesus needed their prayer support, but they'd fallen asleep at such a critical time for Jesus.

But Jesus was used to 'going aside' and talking with His Heavenly Father.  God, who never slumbers nor sleeps, was ever willing and open to hearing His Son.  This was a great time of temptation for Jesus, the fully man part of Him, to not go through with the agony of arrest, farce trial, with whippings and mocking and the dying upon a cross.

But He told His Father,

"If Thou be willing, remove this cup from me:  nevertheless not my will, but Thine, be done" (Luke 22:42 KJV).

In the pathos of His being, Jesus too, fought against His own will but in victory, submitted to His Father's.  His strength lay in this.

An angel came to minister to Him, also strengthing Him.  His Father cared for Him in this manner.

The fully man and fully God Jesus went forth from His prayers and met the power of darkness of mankind head on.  He was arrested and brought into the high priest's house (see verse 53).

Jesus was putting Himself in our sinful shoes.  He was facing the judgment and punishment each of us human beings deserve.  Sin, separation from God His Heavenly Father and death, the wages of sin.

He did this out of love for you and me, brothers and sisters-in-Christ.  Let us remember His sacrifice for us this Lord's Day as we partake of the broken bread and drink of the cup of wine.  We were the one who deserved all of this but He took His place on the cross for us instead.

May we ever be deeply grateful for all He has done for us!

Thank-You, Jesus.

                                                ~ ERC  September 2025 ~

Based on Luke 22:37-54 ESV.

Sing, At the Cross (Alas and Did My Savior Bleed), along with the Gaithers.