“He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’”
—Luke 22:41-42 NIV

The Bible does not clearly tell what happened on Wednesday of Holy Week. Many believe that Jesus took advantage of the day to rest and prepare for what would be the most critical days of his life on this earth, while others think that he returned to the temple to teach as he had done the previous two days.

The only thing we know for sure about that day is that the religious leaders were finalizing their plans to kill Jesus, and he did nothing to stop them. He didn’t flee from Jerusalem and he didn’t try to thwart his adversaries’ plans.

Jesus understood his purpose: to die on the Cross to receive our condemnation and prepare the way for us to know God.

We will always face the temptation to advance our own agenda, but Jesus showed us a different way: the way of surrender.

Now, surrender is always a struggle. Even Jesus asked God to spare him from suffering on the Cross (“take this cup from me”).

But at the end of the day, after being honest with God about our struggle, may we join Jesus in praying: “Not my will, but yours be done.”

Here is a simple thought to carry with you today:

Inhale: Not my will,
Exhale: But yours be done.