Stephen Percy
Unimaginable humility
When he [Christ] appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. | Philippians 2:7b-8
I always find the account of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane before the crucifixion to be so poignant and relevant to the above verses. As we know Jesus was (and is) God, the second Person of the Trinitywho, by taking on flesh and becoming a man, was open to all the feelings and emotions of a man. When He prays in v.39 of Matthew 26 "O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will", he knew the agony he was about to go through, and he knew it all in detail because it had already been foretold in the Old Testament, and he knew it because he was God. He faced it full on, knowing all the facts. He was in such distress and agony of mind that his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:44).
Matthew 26:42 is Jesus's second request to His Father. "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from me unless I drink it, Your will be done", and He prays this same prayer a third time. What a Saviour we have!
Reading through this a couple of verses from Hebrews 12 come to mind.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the Author (originator) and finisher (perfector) of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What can we say but "Hallelujah, what a Saviour, praise His wonderful name!"?