Daily Devotions
Thursday, March 5, 2026
And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And [Jesus …] took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, He fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Remove this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:32a, 33-36)
Sometimes hope produces the worst pain. Up to this point, Jesus has been saying to His disciples, very clearly, that He would in the future be handed over to His enemies, be mocked and flogged and crucified—and then He would rise from the dead. There has been no doubt in anything He said.
But now, here in the garden on the last night of His life, it looks like that perfect conviction has been withdrawn. Like any man, Jesus is subject to the tortures of hope—the thought that just possibly, God the Father might find another way to save the world. A way that would allow Jesus to escape the future He has known for years.
And so, like any man, He prays. He prays in desperation, asking God for that possible loophole—but always adding, “Yet not what I will, but what You will.” Because He loves the Father, and He loves us, and He is not willing to lose us for any price—even His own life.
And when hope fails Him, Jesus turns back to love. He rouses His disciples so they can make their getaway. And then He turns His face to the cross, for all of us.
WE PRAY: Dear Savior, thank You. I love You. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
- Have you ever experienced false hope?
- Why does suffering hurt more when false hope gets mixed into it?
- How do you think God the Father felt about His side of this prayer conversation?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today's Readings:
Leviticus 19-20Mark 9:30-50
Archive
All | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 |Large Print
