When we struggle with surrendering our will to God and living sacrificially, we wake with Christ Jesus is Gethsemane. Just like Jesus we are prepared to serve through sacrifice. Jesus set an example how to sacrifice one’s life for others. “The sufferings of Gethsemane, deep in his soul, could touch him only because he willed it, to give us courage in our own fears, to set us an example, to merit for us the grace needed in our own interior conflicts.” “Suffering inflicted on Jesus by others had the appearance at least of being involuntary”, states Ralph Gorman. Jesus prayed that God would take this cup of suffering away from him. Look, here comes my betrayer.” (Matthew 26: 36-46, CEB) Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Will you sleep and rest all night? Look, the time has come for the Human One to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. But he left them and again went and prayed the same words for the third time. We are to pray until we are willing to say like Jesus “not what I want but what you want”.Īgain he came and found them sleeping. We are to pray until we are willing to surrender. The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.” A second time he went away and prayed, “My Father, if it’s not possible that this cup be taken away unless I drink it, then let it be what you want.” (Matthew 26: 39-42, CEB) He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay alert one hour with me? Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation. However-not what I want but what you want.” He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping. Then he went a short distance farther and fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me.

Stay here and keep alert with me.” (Matthew 26: 36-38, CEB)

He said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go and pray over there.” When he took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, he began to feel sad and anxious. Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When we surrender our will to God, we are blessed with grace upon grace. When we hang on to God even when nothing makes sense, we find peace. When we embrace suffering, we enter into the mystery of God. But could there be something deeper in it? Could there be some hidden blessings somewhere? Because…

Suffering and sacrificial living are not very appealing at the first glimpse. Jesus showed us by his example what it is to live sacrificially and we are called to be like him. What is sacrificial living anyway? Why should we live that way? And what’s in it for me? Let’s find out.

Examples of christian sacrifice