Text St. Mark 14:32-36 "And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.(vs33) and he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; (vs34) And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. (vs35) And he went forward a little , and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. (vs36) And he said, Abba Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt."
PREMISE
The Pulpit Commentary, Vol.16, pages 271-272, a comment on St. Mark 14:32-36 1."Thy Will Be Done!" Is To Be the Abiding Desire Of Our Hearts. The habitual contemplation of the Divine will is likely to lead us to desire its fulfillment. We shall see, if faintly, the wisdom, the goodness, the pure purpose, which that will expresses. It is a desire for the Divine Father to do and carry out his own will in his own house on earth, "as it is in heaven." Seeing God in all things, and having entire confidence in the unsullied wisdom and unfailing goodness of the Father on high, it desires both that he should do his own will in all things, and that by all that will should be sought as the supreme law. It knows no good outside of the operation of that will. Within its sphere all is life, and health, and truth, and goodness; without is darkness and the region of the shadow of death.
3. But there are urgent needs, or situations that demand immediate action or attention in life when the crush of sorrow comes upon us. He who has habitually sought to know and observe the will of the Lord in his daily activity will easily recognize the Divine will in his sufferings; and to bow to that will in health will prepare him to acquiesce in it in sickness. To say, "Thy will be done!" when health and friends and possessions all are gone, needs the training of days in which all the desires of the heart have been brought into subjection. Many things transpire which are contrary to the Divine will; but obedient faith will rest in the Divine purpose, which can work itself out by the least promising means. Though held in "the hands of wicked men," it will cry, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."
DEFINITION
Surrender means to: give up(something) to the possession or power of another, upon demand or compulsion, to yield to, resign or abandon possession of (something) in favor of or for the sake of another; relinquish or submit, or to yield to the power of another.
EXPOSITION
1. Our Lord Jesus Christ surrender to do God's perfect will was critical in that:
a. It was through His surrender that He was made perfect and stood before God as the Ideal and Perfect Man.--- Heb.5:7-9 "Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (vs8) Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (vs9) And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"
b. It was through His surrender to be the Ideal and Perfect Man that his Righteousness was able to stand for every man.---2 Cor.5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
c. It was through His surrender to be the Ideal and Perfect Man that he was able to bear the cup of God's wrath against sin for every man.--- Heb.2:9-10 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (vs10) For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."- (The Result and Our Hope) Heb.9:27-28 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:(vs28) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
2. The Characteristics Of A Surrendered Life Is:
a. Death To Sin Through The Fellowship of Christ's Death--- Gal.2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
b. The Rendering Of Unquestioning Service --- Isa.6:8 "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I send me."
c. Resignation In Trials (Concerning Job)---Job 1:20-22 "Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, (vs21) And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.(vs22) In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." Job 13:15 "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Job 14:13-14 "O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! (vs14) If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come."
d. A Surrender That Can Be Seen During Hardships --- 1 Peter 2:19-23 "For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.(vs20) For what glory is it, if, when ye are buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God." (vs21)For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (vs22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:(vs23) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:"
e. A Surrender That Becomes The Rule Of Life---James 4:13-15 "Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: (vs14) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (vs15) For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."
f. The Surrendered Life Will Be Faithful Till The End--- Gal.6:9 " And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." 1 Peter 1:13 "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" 1 Cor.15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."