"Nevertheless"

“And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39

In the Garden of Gethsemane, facing an unspeakable future, Jesus prayed earnestly that a certain "cup" might pass from Him. Some might think this was a fear of physical pain or death, but I believe it is something far deeper. This cup represented something else entirely: the weight of sin. He, who knew no sin, was about to become sin for us, becoming the curse that separated God from man.

Though fully God, Jesus was also fully human. He knew what lay ahead – the journey from Gethsemane to the cross, to the grave. Yet, in this moment of intense struggle, His loyalty to the Father was never in question. He prayed, not demanding His way, but three times declared, "nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

This demonstrates a profound obedience of love. It's a loyalty that says "nevertheless" even when circumstances are dark, loss is imminent, or betrayal occurs. This obedience was not forced but flowed from love, leading Him to lay down His life. He willingly made His way to Calvary, not reluctantly, but driven by love, ultimately offering His life as a ransom for many and bearing the sin of humanity. 

May we, too, learn to say “nevertheless” in our own Gethsemanes—trusting God when the road is hard and surrendering our will in love. For in Christ’s obedience, we find not only our salvation but the perfect example of what it means to follow the Father’s will, even when it costs everything.