How amazing is our Lord! Never forget what He went through to save us…

We know that with God all things are possible – and that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Matthew 19:26; Philippians 4:13) But how does that work? As ever, we can see God and His ways in Jesus. Just consider what He did on the cross.

Jesus did not have to go to Calvary. In fact, He could have called down legions of angels to save Him from His agony, but He did not. Instead, He willingly went through unimaginable suffering – for us.

Jesus had a mockery of a trial and received an unjust sentence. We know that sin leads to death, but Jesus never sinned – not even once. Though He was tempted just like we are, He never took the bait. Jesus was the ONLY ONE in the history of planet earth who ever lived a totally sinless life. He did nothing wrong and did not deserve the death penalty – naturally or spiritually.

Though Scripture says that the sin will cost us our life (Romans 6:23), thankfully, Jesus had no sin of His own. That is why He could pay for our sin with His life. The holy and innocent Lamb of God was our substitute, His blood shed on Calvary for us. Never forget what He did – and be thankful!

And yet, we are left with some important questions…

We know that Jesus laid aside His glory to come to earth as a man. Though He was fully God, He operated like a man filled with the Spirit, obeying His Father – even unto death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8)

How did Jesus get faith like this? How did He muster the courage to face this kind of extreme physical suffering? How did He continue when He became sin on our behalf, experiencing unimaginable spiritual suffering? How did He who had never experienced any distance from His Father stay the course when He could not see Him or hear Him or feel His presence? How amazing is our Lord – and how can we become like Him?

We know WHY Jesus did this (because of His great love), but that is not enough to know HOW we can follow in His footsteps. We need to know how He did it – and the answer is found in a garden…

Ironically, the first Adam sinned in a garden, and the Second Adam saved us in one. Though His work was finished on the cross, it was done at Gethsemane.

Do you remember when the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil? (Matthew 4:1-11) That confrontation was necessary to prepare Him – not just for His miracle ministry but also to finish His work on the earth.

Truly, the enemy threw everything he had at Him in the wilderness. And yet, the physically weak and depleted Jesus returned each volley with lethal Scripture. Eventually, the devil left Him, and angels ministered Him – but it wasn’t over. Far from it!

In Luke 4:13 we learn that “when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.” Though Jesus emerged from that arena filled with the power of the Spirit, His greatest test was yet to come… in the garden of Gethsemane. No doubt, that was the enemy’s “opportune time” to strike again. Not only was Jesus facing great temptation, but He exhorted His followers to “pray, [so they] may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:40)

It was through gut-wrenching prayer that Jesus prepared for “the evil hour.” (Luke 22:54) And as in the wilderness, He did it alone. While His followers slept instead of watching, Jesus wrestled with the enemy working through His own humanity. However, after asking the Father – three times – to take the cup from Him, He submitted to His will and won the spiritual battle.

Jesus fought on His knees and emerged the victor by humbling Himself to the depths of His soul. That was how He received everything He needed to face the cross. It was through prayer that He received the amazing Grace He displayed throughout His ordeal. As He sweat great drops of blood, Jesus not only left us an example but also a legacy of hope for steadfastness under trial. (Hebrews 12:3-4)

Through prayer, love won in the garden – and fear turned into faith. Jesus was confident and secure, knew who He was and where He was going. He faced the worst that hell and humans could do with a meek and quiet spirit, because “He committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.” (1 Peter 2:23) Jesus did not fear suffering, nor did He fear death, because He feared His Father above all.   

That’s how He did it – and how we can face whatever suffering we may encounter, as well.