The Costly Path

Job 25: Mark 13-14 

“’Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping…’Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.’”

Mark 14:36-38

The cup of suffering Jesus took from the hand of his Father was a cup he also shared with his disciples. Jesus fulfilled the intercession and atoning work of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53. His disciples shared in Christ’s sufferings (Colossians 1:24), through their willing surrender to the Father’s mission-purposes and will. It was the Holy Spirit who later empowered them to pray and proclaim the good news that Christ’s sufferings had been redeemed. Our flesh is still weak and we, too, need to watch and pray so we, too, do not fall into temptation. Sometimes the temptation is to avoid suffering for the will of God because our will is often on the path of least resistance. Jesus showed his disciples a better, most costly way.

Will we follow Jesus, and watch, pray, and share in his cup of suffering when asked?

“Lord Jesus, you are worthy of whatever price it is to follow, for your glory.”