In the hours before Jesus was arrested, He went to Gethsemane with His disciples. He asked them to keep watch. Jesus knew He was facing a Roman crucifixion, the cruellest of all punishments. The next morning He would be whipped 39 times. A crown of thorns would be mercilessly pushed down into His skull. He was to endure public humiliation and be slapped in the face. He had already been betrayed by one of His friends and would be denied by another. In a matter of hours He would pick up His cross and then collapse under the weight. Nails would be pounded into His hands and feet. Onlookers would mock and laugh at His agony.  In the garden, pondering what He was about to endure, Jesus cried out to His Father, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Abba, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me.”

These weren’t just empty words. Jesus could have walked away. Even the next day as He endured such torture, as He suffocated and gasped for His next breath while hanging on the cross, He could have summoned 10,000 angels. But Jesus never quit. In the garden He prayed, “Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Let’s ponder for a moment, why did Jesus choose to endure such suffering? Why did he resolve to see His mission through?

Because of His love for you.

After Jesus poured His soul out to His Father, He returned to His disciples only to find them asleep. He woke Peter, saying, “Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour?”

And may I ask you, friend? Are you asleep even as God is doing something absolutely incredible in the world around you? It is time to wake up. God is working in your life. God is chasing you. Whatever you are going through today, it's because God is calling out to you. God wants you to know His love. Surrender your life to Christ. Come to the cross and look up at Jesus. Kneel down and look up into His eyes. Once you have been there, you will never be the same.