.if it is possible, let this cup..
be taken away from Me...
Matthew 26:39 NLT
Sometmes in Christian circles wnen somebody is sutfering we blame it on hidden sin. That way we think it can't
happen to us because were not guilty of that particular problem, right: How shortSighted. gIven the tact that Jesus the sinless Son of God, exemplified sutfering! In Gethsemane He didn't stand up With false bravado and say, Bring it on!' No, He...bowed...His face to the ground, praying, "My Father! if it
is possible, let this cup (the suttering) be taken away... Yet... Your will..be done, not Mine."
Jesus took the pain and showed us how to glorify God in it. One Christian author observed: God never promised tornadoesbwould skip our houses on the way to our pagan neighbours, and
microbes would flee from Christian bodies. We're not exempt from the tragedies of this world, just as God wasn't exempt. In fact, Peter earned the strongest rebuke when he protested against the need for Christ to suffer. Jesus said, 'Get behind Me, Satan.
You are a stumbling block...you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men... If anyone would come ater Me, he must deny himself.take up his cross and follow Me...whoever wants to save his life will lose it..whoever loses his life for Me will find it' (Matthew 16:23-25 NIV).
God took the worst thing that could happen-the execution of innocent Son-and turmed it into the final victory over death.. He turned the design of evil into the service of good. It's by His
wounds we are heal (Isaiah 53:5), and by His weakness that we are made strong. There are issues that will not pass because the glory they will bring.