On Wednesday April 4, 2012 President Obama hosted Easter Prayer Breakfast at the White House. Among his remarks that day he stated this: “Like us, Jesus knew doubt. Like us, Jesus knew fear…. It gives us courage, it gives us hope. We all have experiences that shake our faith. There are times we question God’s plan…but that’s precisely when we should remember Jesus’ own doubts and eventually his triumph.” The gathered religious leaders gave a chorus of Amens. But I can’t help but comment on, what to me is a glaring error in the Presidents remarks.
“… Jesus’ own doubts….” It may be a simple statement that seems apropos on the surface. I would challenge you though to move beyond the shallow end of the intellectual pool of catch phrases and sound bites and think about the events of that passover celebration so many years ago. When I read the Biblical account of Jesus’ ministry here on earth and His sacrifice on the cross I don’t see a man of doubt and fear. I see a man who’s life was an example of faith, courage, and resolute purpose. Jesus knew the trials he would face and often throughout his ministry he tried to prepare his disciples for the events of that passover weekend. “And Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside along the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him. And the third day He shall rise again.” – Matthew 20:17-19.
Jesus had no doubts, He knew what lay before him that weekend in Jerusalem, yet he walked boldly and confidently into the city.
Jesus never shrank from his duty, never wavered in his commitment. The only indication of weakness is in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” – Luke: 22:42. This was not the prayer of a man in doubt, pleading for guidance or direction. Jesus wasn’t asking for clarification of his mission. The suffering associated with crucifixion was well-known to those who lived in the Roman Empire. Jesus knew full well the torture and pain that awaited him but even that could not compare to the full burden of sin he was about to bear. The sins of the whole human race were weighing down his heart. Adding to his agony was the knowledge that soon He would be alone, fully separated from God His Father. To be a proper and complete sacrifice for the sins of man Jesus had to experience the full punishment of sin, death and separation from God. While on the cross He cried out for his God, “…My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” – Matthew 27:45. On that dark night in the quiet of the garden garden Jesus spoke one last time with his Father, poring out the heavy burden on His heart. He expresses no doubt about his mission and duty. Jesus simply asks, “… if you are willing, take this cup from me….” But Jesus doesn’t end with this request and he doesn’t wait for the answer, he knows the answer already. He knew the plan from the beginning, He follows up his question with, “… not my will, but yours be done.” Not His will but God’s will. Jesus acknowledges that God is in control and puts his full faith in Him.
So this Easter season ignore the shallow bloviations of those who would use this celebration of Jesus triumph over sin as a means to political gain. Look through the colored eggs, candy, and bunnies, and see the great sacrifice and his triumphal resurrection that gives us all the right to be sons and daughters of God.
