But If I Did
Jesus, fully God and fully man, understood the uncomfortable pain of going through trials and wanting things to be different. Before his death on the cross, we find him in the garden, begging the Father to take this cup of suffering away from him.
He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Matthew 26:38-39 NLT
In Luke’s account of this story, he describes Jesus being in such agony that sweat fell off his face like great drops of blood. (Luke 22:44)
Shortly after this prayer, Jesus was betrayed by Judas and turned over to his enemies. One of the disciples tried to protect Jesus by cutting off the ear of the High Priest’s slave. Jesus responded to their resistance by saying,
“Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”
Matthew 26:53-54 NLT
Jesus, fully God and fully man—fully felt the agony of temporary trials while also having the wisdom and foresight to know there was great purpose to the pain. Even though he had the power and authority to call upon angels for rescue, he didn’t. That’s how vital this pain was to the greater picture.
When we go through pain, it is common to ask God “why” or beg him for something different—even Jesus did this! But just like we can find relief in knowing our Savior has compassion for us and knows what this feels like, we can also be encouraged by his life’s example that all pain, no matter how unfair or difficult, serves a greater purpose. The disciples didn’t understand why Jesus had to die, and it made absolutely no sense to them until his resurrection. In their minds, their Messiah would come and defeat their enemies. Instead, this wonderful Jesus who had done no wrong was sentenced to die a criminal’s death. It was completely unfair and left them devastated. Let’s read Isaiah 53 together and reflect on the “why” behind Jesus’ death—the scripture that had to be fulfilled:
“He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.”
Isaiah 53:3-12 NLT
“If he did” call down angels, this good plan from the Lord would never be fulfilled. I love what verse 11 says in Isaiah 53, “When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied.” This passage gives me hope that no matter what anguish I go through, I can trust “the Lord’s good plan” for my life, just as my Savior sets an example for me to follow.
If you are going through a season of grief or difficulty, I pray today that you would find comfort in knowing your Savior is “acquainted with deepest grief” and he loves you so. He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), and we can trust that just as God had a good plan for Him, so he has a good plan for us too.
