[UntoHim]

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.
(Matthew 26:39)

But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.
(1 John 2:1)

This is the ballad of a cross and a crown
and the man who was so punished,
though no guilt in him was found.

The scoffers would mock him,
even his own would flee
still with his last breath:
"Father forgive" his dying plea.

This is the ballad of a cross and a crown
and the man who dreaded the first,
then in the garden fell down

For he knew Abba Father
and he knew his good will
So he stood in our place
He stands as our Advocate still

No other passage illustrates the intimate relationship between the Father and the Son more than our Lord's desperate prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. The eternal fate of every creature, and indeed creation itself, hung in the balance. The god of this world had already offered all he could offer, including "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory", but he was rebuffed by our Savior with "You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only." (Matt 4:8-10) Yet, in the end, it still came down to the Son submitting one final time: "not as I will, but as you will".

1 John 2:1 starts with the address: "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin". Little children are precious, but they are immature and selfish. They only know about and care about their own will. Sin is natural, it comes easy for little children. Let us not be ignorant. God is still offended, and his holiness and righteousness are violated, by our sin. But God has graciously provided a mediator, an advocate, to plead our case before the Father. Who could argue our case before such a righteous Father? After all: "None is righteous, no, not one" (Rom 3:10) The Lamb that God provided for our redemption has also become "Jesus Christ the Righteous" to plead the case of the little children.

to be continued
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