When God Said “No.”
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Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
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Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
The prayers Jesus prays in the garden show us how deeply He entered into the human experience.
He was praying desperately, knowing He was about to be arrested and crucified. Twice, He asked the Father to take the cup from Him.
But the voice God spoke was not an audible affirmation. The Father had already spoken audibly at Jesus’ baptism and again at the transfiguration. In the garden, God spoke differently. He spoke by not removing the cup.
It is not always the answer we would like, but it is always good. Jesus shows us this through the Father’s response to His Son. The answer was no.
Jesus teaches us two things.
It is good to ask God for things to change. Jesus did. He asked more than once.
Whatever God decides, we can trust Him.
While the disciples slept nearby, we witness one of the most intense prayers recorded in Scripture. What do we do when God says no?
We remember that His no is better than any yes we could design for ourselves. God did not remove the suffering, but He did send an angel to strengthen Jesus.
God’s strength is better than our satisfaction.
Today, model the two lessons of Jesus. Ask the Lord honestly. Then trust the Lord completely. It is our responsibility to ask in faith. It is God’s responsibility to determine what is best.