Since we are in the midst of the Easter season, I want to take one event from Easter week and discuss it a little bit.  This event occurred when Jesus was in the garden praying about what was about to happen.  We read that he was troubled and deeply distressed.  He even says, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.”  Jesus then goes off by himself to pray, and what he prays is remarkable.  He prays, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me.”

Why is this remarkable?  Well, because Jesus is the creator of the universe.  He is God incarnate.  He is the second person of the Trinity.  He is Lord!  And He’s been singularly focused — He was on His way to Jerusalem, knowing what was going to happen.  Remember that he taught them, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”  He knew what he had to do.  In fact, that was the whole reason He came to earth!  The angel told Joseph that Mary would “bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  And yet, he prays to God and says, “Remove this cup from me.”  How do we explain this?

Jesus endured pain and suffering while here on this earth.  He was mocked and rejected.  He experienced emotions just like we do.  We read that he was sorrowful, even to death.  In the midst of that, would we expect Him to do anything different?  In the midst of His despair, and in the face of His suffering, He cried out to God. He was honest about the pain He was experiencing.

I don’t know what you are going through this Easter season.  Maybe you’re having trouble experiencing the joy of the resurrection because of what’s going on in your life.  Perhaps you’ve been experiencing a difficult time.  Perhaps you’re angry, or confused, or in pain, or all of the above.  Remember that you can cry out to God, and that He wants you to be honest with him.  He wants you to communicate all your cares and worries to Him.  For it’s only when we share them with Him that He can calm our hearts, ease our worries, and carry our pain away.

And hopefully we can all get to the point where Jesus was in His relationship with the Father.  Jesus, even in the midst of His pain and suffering, even in the midst of His brutal honesty, still exhibits faith and acceptance.  He calls God “Father” and finishes his prayer with, “Yet not what I will, but what you will.”  It is my hope this Easter season that we will all exhibit Jesus’ maturity, honesty, faith, and acceptance.  To God be the glory!