“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’?”
“But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.” Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him. Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” John 12:27-32 (NLT)
Lord Jesus, as the events of “Holy Week” began to unfold, exuberant “Hosannas!” gave way to great disturbance in your soul. There was zero hesitation, but profound consternation. No surprises awaited you, just an overwhelming assignment—a plan you embraced before the world began (Eph. 1:3-14).
Within days, you’d take the judgment we deserve to give us the grace we could never earn—becoming sin for us that we might receive the gift of your righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). At the end of the week, your “bruised heel” (Gen. 3:15) would crush Satan’s head, securing his defeat, the demise of evil, and the death of death.
By your cross, you would pay the price of redemption for the salvation of God’s immense covenant family. Children of grace, redeemed from every nation, tribe, people, and language; daughters and sons of mercy, as numerous as the stars in the sky, the sand of the beaches, and the dust of the earth (Gen. 12-17).
It was for this purpose you came from eternity into time and space—not to be our model, but our substitute. For this reason, you emptied yourself of your glory by taking the form of a servant—the Lord’s Servant (Isa. 52:13-53:13). To this end you became obedient—even obedient to death on the cross (Phil. 2:5-11). Understandably so, Lord Jesus, your heart was greatly overwhelmed, even as a great joy compelled you (Heb. 12:2).
Over the next several days, grant us grace to slow our pace and quiet our hearts, that we might survey the wonders of your cross and the greatness of your love. So very Amen we pray, in your holy and grace-full name.
