Andrea Sieberhagen
He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. Mark 14:33, NIV
In the garden of Gethsemane, we again see Jesus’ humanity among people. He takes some of His disciples with him. Very human, he does not want to be alone in his hour of anguish. He is afraid because he knows what his future holds. A difficult path lies ahead. He knows the cross awaits him and that only afterward will he go to the Father’s house.
The Son of God understands the purpose, but the human Son prays the plea: if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet in Mark 14:36, he also prays, “Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
God became human on this earth to pour out his grace over us completely. He died on the cross on our behalf and carried our guilt.
We too sometimes find ourselves in circumstances where we feel anxious or even terrified about the future. Jesus understands, for he has been there. If we too can pray as he did, ‘not my will but yours …’
Often, we think we know what is best for us, but God always knows better. It is not always easy to surrender so completely, but we can strive to follow his perfect example.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, grant me calmness of spirit to surrender completely to your will. Amen.
Andrea Sieberhagen
Daarna neem Hy vir Petrus, Jakobus en Johannes saam met Hom. Hy het ontsteld en beangs geword en vir hulle gesê: "Ek voel doodsbenoud. Bly hier en waak! Markus 14:33, 1983-vertaling
In die tuin van Getsemane sien ons weer eens Jesus se mensheid tussen mense. Hy neem van sy dissipels saam met Hom. Eg menslik, wil Hy nie alleen wees in sy uur van angs nie. Hy is bang omdat Hy weet wat sy toekoms inhou. Daar lê 'n moeilike pad voor Hom. Hy wéét dat die kruis op hom wag en dat Hy eers daarna na die Vaderhuis sal gaan.
Die Godskind sien die rede, maar die menskind bid dat as dit moontlik is: "Neem hierdie lydensbeker van My af weg", maar dan bid Hy ook verder “Moet nogtans nie doen wat Ek wil nie, maar wat U wil.” (Markus 14:36)
God het mens geword op hierdie aarde om sy genade volkome oor ons uit te stort. Hy het namens ons aan die kruis gesterf en ons skuld gedra.
Ons beland ook soms in omstandighede waarin ons angstig of selfs doodsbenoud oor die toekoms voel. Jesus verstaan, want Hy was reeds daar. As ons dan ook soos Hy tot God kan bid, nogtans nie soos ek wil nie ...
Dikwels dink ons, dat ons weet wat die beste vir ons is, maar God weet altyd beter.
Dis nie altyd maklik om so volkome oor te gee nie, maar ons kan daarna streef om die perfekte voorbeeld na te volg.
Gebed: Hemelse Vader, gee aan my die kalmte van gees om my volkome aan u wil te onderwerp. Amen