With his arrest, trial, and crucifixion just days away, Jesus uttered this brief but telling prayer to his Father: “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say – ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name” (Jn. 12:27,28).
This prayer tells us something of Jesus’ mental state in “this hour.” Namely, that he was fully human. He was troubled. Perhaps the thought of his impending death brought before him its approaching horrors and pains. Or, perhaps he was anxious about the effect his suffering and death would have upon his disciples. Whatever the reason, “this hour” drove Jesus to reach out to his Father.
This prayer tells us that Jesus weighed his options. “What should I say?” is an honest question, and Jesus does not mind his Father knowing that he is pondering it. “Should I ask for the Father to save me from this hour?” Jesus wonders. Notice that this is an option Jesus weighs – yes, he contemplates it – then moves away from it.
Amazingly, Jesus understood that “this hour” had its own special purpose. He knew there was a reason he had come to this hour. We know, of course, that the events of “this hour” made possible our salvation!
Finally, we learn the astonishing request Jesus made in that prayer: “Father, glorify your name.” Isn’t this magnificent! When Jesus’ hour comes he doesn’t pray, “Save me from this hour,” but “Glorify yourself through this hour.”
Our Lord can teach us a lot about how to face dark days of the soul. When we come to distressing moments in our lives, we can reach out to God for his help. We can bare our hearts to him in complete honesty. We can view the hours we would want to be saved from as carrying a meaning and a purpose. And, when we must endure dark days we can seek, not the avoidance of personal pain and suffering, but that our heavenly Father is glorified in the experience. Lord, help us to respond as you did when comes our hour of grief and pain!
Hello Professor Holton!
You may not remember me (thankfully), but I was a student in one of your philosophy classes at COD. I had been meaning to get in touch with you once the fall ’10 semester started just to make sure life was treating you well. unfortunately though, when registering for classes i looked up your name which yielded no results! i thought all hope in contacting you was pretty much diminished but after a little bit of poking around the internet, i was able to come across your twittter which had a link to your wordpress.
anyway, the reason why im here is to let you know that your words of kindness and understanding during such a hard time in my life had a very profound effect on my outlook. i just wanted to post this to express the fact that the gesture will never go unappreciated . your course was the bright spot in my school day just about every day of the semester. philosophy was easily the most engaging and interesting course ive taken at the college thus far.
as you may recall, during the middle of the semester my dad had passed away. not only was it the saddest thing ive ever dealt with, but it was also incredibly awkward for me to process as a person. i just never saw it coming and i dont believe i was in any way ready to deal with that sort of thing. when i came to you and told you exactly what the situation was, you were just very helpful in your advice. im not quite sure what it was, but i just took a lot of solitude your understanding.
i know it feels a little awkward having to read all this, but i guess i just wanted to let you know that even if your efforts to be sympathetic may have been a small gesture, it was a big part of what kept me going.
i find your articles very insightful. i myself am not an incredibly religious person by any means but i do take comfort in my God throughout times of darkness, light and just about everything in between. with every prayer i try and rediscover why it is i believe in God, and with each nights rest i know that the effort was not in vein.
i find it interesting that you try hard to relate something that happens to people in every day life to a message God tries to teach us. this rather long winded comment here particularly reminds me of “under the gingko tree”- Sometimes you say or do things ‘out of the goodness of your heart’ hoping that people will understand that a small favor is not always done from force of habit. sometimes the smallest display of compassion is done with the largest amount of love in mind.
i just wanted to let you know that no matter how many little acts of kindness you display throughout life seem as if they go unappreciated, in my eyes, your compassion was anything but “a cup of cold water”. thank you so much.
Ill be dropping in for a blog read from time to time
Best of luck to you!
with love and peace to you!
John.
Hey John! Sure I remember you! And, it’s good to hear from you. Thank you for your very kind note. How are you? I’d like to catch up with you and hear about your life and what’s going on. Would you send me an email address or some other contact information? All the best to you, John, and I look forward to hearing from you!
Dearest Kerry&Becky,
Here’s a blast from the past. I was doing my morning devotions on Sun. 5/8 (Mothers Day) and one of the questions was “Make a list of people who have made a difference in your life” and as always the both of you came to mind. I know that without the 2 of you at that point in my life, I wouldn’t have made. What a mighty Father we have that He gave the 2 of you to me. That question started a search for you. I didn’t want 1 more day to go by without getting in touch with you. I would love to call and perhaps come up to see you guys. I live in Chesapeake, Va. now. I would love to sit and tell you how God has worked in my life all because you both started a good work in me. You both have a very special place in my heart. Please email. I love you both so dearly and praise God for you.
All God’s Blessings and my Love,
Dolores McNamara Whamond (CHurch Of Christ New Milford)
Kerry,
Thanks for pursuing the depth of our Lord that brings peace and calmness in our dark hours. It is a depth that sometimes I push away because it requires thought–apart from self. In a world where we are told, “you think too much”, that is the message that couldn’t be farther from the truth! I think…:)
April