The Surrender of Jesus - Matthew 26:30-56

The word surrender does not seem to have positive connotations. Safe to say it is more associated with weakness. When we think about the word surrender, some of us may have an image of a white flag waving in the air as an army surrenders to another. Or when an athlete concedes defeat, or maybe when a person ‘gives up’ on their dreams. No matter the image, it is not a word that is easy for most because it carries with it the idea of giving up control and yielding to something or someone beyond ourselves.But here in the story of Jesus, surrender is not about weakness but about strength. We will see that Jesus models for us what it means to surrender fully to the will of the Father, despite a denial from a friend, a prayer without friends, and finally a betrayal from a friend.The Isolation of SurrenderThe Prayer of SurrenderThe Victory of SurrenderReflection Questions:How does Jesus’ foreknowledge of Peter’s failure give us hope in our weaknesses?What does Jesus’ prayer, “not as I will, but as You will,” teach us about surrender and trust?Where in your life are you being invited to say, “Not my will, but Yours be done”?