Luke 22:42
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Luke 22:42
Jesus’s prayer expresses a critical moment of suffering: “if thou be willing, remove this cup from me.” He does not pretend hardship isn’t real. The “cup” stands for the trials, the crucifixion, and the cosmic weight of bearing humanity’s sin. Yet he adds a decisive pause: “nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” This is the hinge between human longing and divine submission, between personal risk and obedience to God’s sovereign plan.
This verse crystallizes the gospel’s paradox: Jesus’s divine authority is exercised through radical self-giving. It shows that obedience may involve bearing something painful for the sake of others. It affirms that the Father’s will takes precedence over personal preference, a theme echoed throughout Scripture in trust-filled surrender.
When facing hard outcomes—health worries, job loss, or relational hurt—bring your pain to God honestly, then align your heart to his purposes. Practical example: write down your deepest fear, confessional style, then ask God to help reframe it in terms of his redemptive purposes. Prayer can be a transforming reorientation from personal relief to faithful endurance.
Cross-References: Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; Hebrews 5:7-8; Isaiah 53:3-7; Philippians 2:8