Fear No Fear

“He went a little farther, and falling on His face, He prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”” (Matthew 26:39, MEV). It wasn’t the crown of thorns that Jesus wanted lifted from Himself, although that would be a painful ordeal. It wasn’t the cat-o-nine-tails that Jesus wanted lifted from Himself, although that would be a painful ordeal that nearly killed Him. It wasn’t the beating from the Romans. It wasn’t being nailed to a tree. It wasn’t the agony of crucifixion. It wasn’t the rejection from the religious Judeans. It wasn’t the betrayal by a dear friend. It wasn’t the abandonment by the disciples. It wasn’t the hatred and scorn of those who refused to believe. It was none of that – although ALL of that would be agony and real suffering. No, what Jesus was asking was to keep from becoming Sin. He had NEVER sinned. NEVER disobeyed. NEVER EVER EVER. He was PURE righteousness. Becoming Sin was abhorrent to Him. He was BEGGING that if there was ANY other way, He wanted to take it. Becoming Sin would mean being cut off from the Father. Not indwelt by Holy Spirit. It would mean TOTAL separation. That was an unbearable thought. He was pressed by it. Pressed like olives are pressed. He was so stressed about it He sweat blood. He needed an angel to minister to Him directly just to get past this horror – and that ISN’T including all the internal help from Holy Spirit and the love of the Father toward Jesus. This was the thing. The big thing. This was the cup. Because Jesus loved us, He came to become Sin for us. He did it so that we, believing and trusting in what He did by becoming Sin, could become righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). If there was ANY OTHER WAY, He wanted to take it. But there WAS NO OTHER WAY! He HAD to become Sin. So He drank the cup (John 18:11). He did it to provide a Way for us to be saved (Hebrews 12:2). He did it because He LOVED us. He loved YOU. And He still does.