"Let This Cup Pass"

At the night of his arrest, Jesus in his divine capacity previewed the events in the next 24 hours, and in his human nature felt the impending doom. In his divine capacity he saw himself rise from the tomb victorious, and yet in his human nature felt the torture that he was destined to go through before finally saying “tetelestai”.

Physically Jesus was 100% human with the same number and type of nerve endings like you and I, thus guaranteeing that he felt every lash on his back, every jab to his side, every thorn in his scalp, every slap on his face and every nail through his limbs. 

He heard every insult from the people he loved, he saw the disciples he trusted deny him, cower in fear and hide. He tasted the bitter vinegar on his parched lips, felt the spittle from the soldiers trickle down his face, smelled the nauseating mixture of sweat, blood and tears. He felt the dizzying effect of blood loss and the aching fatigue from carrying the cross through the city and up a hill, and he felt the weight of the whole world on his shoulders.

In the cool and quiet of Gethsemane, alone with his thoughts, his human side outweighed the divine and in almost desperate words asked his father to forgo their plans - the blueprint that they laid even before they created the world together. A plan that was necessary to solve a rebellion in heaven, but also had to take into consideration the display of their love and justice for the whole universe to see, without fraud or bias to anyone.

A plan that needed the sacrifice of the divine Son and yet without any of the participants committing sin and thus becoming victims of the plan. A plan that made sure that Judas didn’t sin because he was just being obedient to the Jewish covenant, that saw to it that the jeering crowd was not guilty because they too were simply fulfilling the covenantal responsibilities that they were taught and had performed down the centuries from Sinai, and that no injustice was done to the heathen Roman officials and soldiers because they were just carrying out their constitutional duties.

They had to make sure that Satan had no hand on the plan and that he didn’t have even the slightest or the least significant role, because he might botch up the plan and prevent the greatest sacrifice of all. They had to ensure that this grand plan of redemption would be flawless and perfect to the smallest detail. Such was their kingdom of justice, love and perfection.

In the stillness of that night, Jesus previewed the scene and saw to it that every character was in place, every role was followed to the very letter in the script, every weapon was sharpened, oiled and glistening, and every feeling ready to be emoted. That was when he realized the profoundness of the pain, shame and blame that he was committed to fulfill as stated in the blueprint, and in a trembling and almost inaudible voice cried, “Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt.” His human nature was ready to call it quits, yet his love for us surpassed all pain, and he willingly submitted everything to his father.

The cup was filled to the brim that night and then poured out the next day for the healing of the nations, for the forgiveness of sin and the defeat of evil.