I got to go watch the “Son of God” movie last night with Abbi and I was really moved by it. I can’t put into words what impacted me so much but there’s just something about seeing the whole drama acted out. It makes you see through the theology and doctrine right into the heart of what we believe.

One of the things that blows me away about Jesus is his submission to his Father’s business. He knew what he was here for and what he was not here for. Rome was terribly oppressive to the people of Israel and they wanted nothing more than for a king to come and save them from this tyranny. Jesus knew that his Father was up to something way more important that most of the people around him would simply not understand. He walked through this world humbly completing his Father’s business.

The moment in the life of Jesus that touches me the most is his time with the Father right before his arrest. He was in the Garden of Gethsemane praying and he gives us a glimpse into his human weakness. Jesus was both Son of Man and Son of God and it’s next to impossible to understand how those two things work together. That being said, in the Garden of Gethsemane we see some of his humanity. He asked the Father to deliver him from the impending trial if he was willing to. Even though he would have loved to have been delivered, he still submitted himself to God’s will. He prayed, “Not my will but yours be done.” This is where the battle was won. This was the huddle before the big play and he was resolved to go through with it even though it would cost him his life.

“Not my will but yours be done.” Such a powerful prayer. I have a strong will. I always have. I frequently want my will to be done above all else. I don’t like being told what to do. To follow Jesus however, we all must take a hard look at this prayer. This is how we are to live. Completely submitted to the will of God. There is a cosmic drama of epic proportions playing out around us and it is not for us to understand the breadth or scope of that drama. We are however, invited to play a vital role but that role is not achieved through self-aggrandizement. That role is achieved through pure and simple surrender. “Not my will but yours be done.” In 7 simple words Jesus was acknowledging his humanity in not wanting to experience what was before him but he was also acknowledging that he existed for the One who sent him.

The ball is now in our court. Will we follow in his footsteps or not? This is arguably the most important decision we will ever make and we get to make it every single day.