Thy Will Be Done
One of our family traditions around Easter is to commemorate last week of Jesus by watching bible videos depicting the events of each particular day. On Palm Sunday, we’ll watch a video of the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. On Monday, we’ll watch a video depicting the cleansing of the temple. We’ll continue this pattern until Easter Sunday, when we watch a video about the resurrection. (For a list of videos to watch during the Holy Week, use this link.)
This year, one thing in particular stood out. After the Last Supper, Jesus went with his disciples to a garden called Gethsemane. There Christ began suffering for our sins. The pain of this experience was so great, that Luke records, “his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44)
In this midst of this agony, Jesus called out, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39 emphasis added)
Of course, I have heard this story many times, but this time I realized something important--Christ did what was right knowing that it would lead to unimaginable pain and certain death. Let me explain why this is important.
Often we like to tell stories of those who stand for truth and then are miraculously saved against all odds. Daniel survives the lion’s den. David slays Goliath, and Moses parts the Red Sea. The message is clear: Do what is right, and good things will happen to you--no matter how unlikely it seems.
Unfortunately, things don’t always work out that way. Some people strive their best to be a good spouse, friend, or business partner, only to be cheated. Some people decide to help another only to be robbed, assaulted, or worse. All too often, politicians succeed with dirty tricks and manipulation at the expense of those who take the high road. The world doesn’t always reward good works.
But the prospect of worldly rewards is not an accurate measure of an action’s morality. In fact, doing right when it is inconvenient to do so is precisely what distinguishes a person’s character. Christ himself taught that we should love our enemies, “For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?” (Matthew 5:44)
In other words we shouldn’t love others because they deserve love. We shouldn’t be honest because it is profitable. We shouldn’t stand for truth because it is popular. We should do all those things because they are right. A poem often attributed to Mother Teresa illustrates this point:
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
In the final hours of his life, Jesus showed a similar attitude. He knew the men who found him in the garden would take him to his death; he healed one anyway. He knew declaring himself the Christ would earn him a death sentence; he declared it anyway. The roman soldiers nailed him to a cross and likely did it without much remorse. Christ forgave them anyway.
In our lives, doing what’s right may cost us money, reputation, our careers, our health, or in rare cases even our lives. I hope that when the time comes, each of us can look those consequences and say, “nevertheless, Thy will be done.” Christ did so and was rewarded with eternal glory. We too will be rewarded with “treasures in heaven” when we forsake worldly consequences and do what is right anyway.
