During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears. (Heb. 5:7)
Charlie knew the road ahead was going to be rough. His terminal cancer diagnosis was a devastating blow to his wife and their two small children. Many nights he cried out to God. With many tears, he prayed to God to watch over his family. In his passion he committed to be a faithful example to his wife and children no matter the outcome. In his final days his family surrounded him, awed by his peace and the presence of God.
No more clearly is passion displayed than in the garden of Gethsemane where our Lord fervently cried out to God to take from him the cup he was about to drink: “Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Mt. 26:39). With these words Jesus vividly displayed the power and passion of submission. The author of Hebrews alluded to this powerful scene here to highlight the humility and obedience of Jesus. As our High Priest, Jesus knew the sacrifice that he must offer to provide complete forgiveness for the sins of the world. He knew he must suffer, yet he remained faithful.
His faithfulness was not without tears and loud cries though. With this Christ provides a model of passionately taking our requests to God while remaining faithful to him at the same time. Despair can lead us to reject God, but Christ shows us a better way.
Remain faithful in the midst of despair as Christ did.
Mark Moore is the spiritual formation pastor at Faith Legacy Church in Sacramento, California, and an auxiliary professor of theology at William Jessup University.
© 2019 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
