The Old Story

Mark 15:22-26  And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. And it was the third hour, when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 


We have heard the accounts of Jesus passion so many times that we risk a ho hum attitude to half of the most important event in the entirety of human history. Remember Jesus prayer, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what you will.” He understood what was being asked of him and he knew that his Father would rescue him if he chose. "Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?" He could have stopped the passion, but he chose to complete his Father's work. In his humanity he did not want this path, but he chose God's will. He did not in his humanity have his own power to stop or save him from this moment but knew his Father would save him if he asked.


I'm often in my own little world faced with tiny opportunities to do the same. I can choose God's will over my own, especially when my own is a primitive fear response. I can be assured of God's power and help if I am doing his will, but must know that his power and help doesn't mean I will avoid difficulty. Sometimes the difficulty will be used in ways I can't imagine to provide an even greater good. Marsha and I once lost close friends because of doing what we knew was God's will. It was not easy, but it prepared us for so many blessings in the following years. We found God's work at hand in our lives by being shown that we could grow and thrive even in adversity with Jesus help. Insignificant in comparison to the choice of Jesus as his sacrifice effected all of us, yet we are called to make our small sacrifices as we trust him at our moments of choice.