The night before his crucifixion, Jesus knelt and prayed to his Father, “Not my will, but yours be done.” Facing the pain and rejection he would experience the next day, Jesus begged his Father for another way. Was there any other way to bring salvation to the world? Despite his desperate request, the Son submitted to the Father’s will.
The Bible makes it clear how difficult this moment was for Jesus. His emotional and spiritual struggle had a physical manifestation—he sweat drops of blood.
Like everything Jesus endured, from his birth, life, death, and resurrection, it all serves as an example for those who seek to follow him. He did a work we couldn’t do. At the same time, he empowers us through the Spirit to live the same life. In the Garden of Gethsemane, we not only see Christ’s deep struggle but our own, as well.
Where Does the Phrase “Not My Will, But Yours Be Done” Come From?
In Luke 22:42, Jesus says, “Father, if you’re willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Knowing the suffering he would endure through his crucifixion, including the weight of bearing all of humanity’s sin, he prays to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. He first asks about the possibility of the “cup” of pain being taken from him. However, he combines this request with an act of submission, making it clear he chooses God’s will over his own.
In context, this prayer occurs after Jesus shared his final meal with his disciples, the Passover meal, also known as the Last Supper. Jesus had spent the entire week in Jerusalem teaching in the Temple and experiencing conflict with the Jewish religious leaders. The religious leaders of the time considered Jesus' words to be heresy and since Jesus threatens their status and authority, they plot to kill him.
Jesus knew he would one day face crucifixion. As the time grew close to the Passover, he prophesied his own death.
During the Last Supper and the rest of the evening, he takes time for encouraging words, preparing the disciples for what was to come. He predicted his betrayal by Judas and denial by Peter. Following the meal, he goes to the Garden of Gethsemane with his disciples to pray. He takes Peter, James, and John with him into the garden, asking them to keep watch and pray. But they fall asleep, even after being reminded, leaving Jesus alone in his desperate moment with the Father.
Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane shows a deep and intimate conversation with his Father, where he must willfully choose the pain and torture of the mission before him. This isn’t just a prayer for Jesus’ own strength but also a clear and intentional choice to complete God’s plan for salvation.
What Does “Not My Will, But Yours Be Done” Mean?
We must begin with acknowledging Jesus possessed a will different than his Father’s. God’s will and plan for salvation included Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus wanted to avoid this part of the plan. He requested, “Father, if you’re willing, take this from me.” Yet, the existence of a desire contrary to the Father’s will didn’t make Jesus any less holy or righteous. A contrary will didn’t make him any less the Son of God. The Son knew his Father understood, and trusting his Father’s love, Jesus spoke honestly.
The secret is in Jesus submitting his will to his Father’s. In other places, Jesus admitted how he needed to submit his will to God. “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:38). Jesus’ righteousness didn’t manifest in always wanting to do God’s will but in always obeying. Therefore, he makes it clear, “Yet not my will, but yours be done.” Righteousness exists in the submission to God’s will.
Jesus trusts the Father’s will because God knows all things, has all power, and is love. Only God can know the exact right action in any moment that will produce the greatest possible good. Out of all the possible choices, God knows the perfect plan to glorify himself and bring us good. Jesus trusted this about his Father. He didn't want pain, but he knew that it needed to happen if God chose this path.
Christ’s submission in Gethsemane was crucial to fulfilling God’s redemptive plan. Philippians 2:8 says, “He humbled himself by becoming obedient unto death—even death on a cross.” Jesus submitted out of obedience and love. He became the sacrificial Lamb of God to produce life abundantly in others. Despite the pain he was about to experience, a pain no one will ever really know, he chose to go through with this plan because he also knew the joy of salvation and reconciliation through his resurrection and the Gospel. “Looking to Jesus, the founder and protector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
Remember, the Fall of Adam and Eve happened in the Garden of Eden, where their pride and disobedience led to death for all who came after them. Adam believed a lie and lost paradise and joy. The second Adam, Christ, submitted to God in another garden and therefore redeemed the Fall, dying to his human self and being resurrected and bringing life to all who follow him.
How Does This Phrase Apply to Christian Life Today?
We can learn several lessons from Jesus saying, “Not my will but yours be done.” Here are a few central ones.
First, we don’t sin because we have sinful desires. Temptation may arise, but temptation isn’t sin. Even Jesus was tempted in every way yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). We shouldn’t let the Devil lie to us and accuse us with a simple temptation. We can take these thoughts captive and turn our attention to God and his will. “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) The Holy Spirit lives within us and gives us the strength to obey God.
Second, obeying God isn’t passive resignation. The Kingdom of God doesn’t operate by coercion or force. We have a will contrary to God’s, and we must actively and freely choose to submit our will to his. This is a life of repentance. As we surrender our will to God, we embrace his commandments and teachings, we better understand God and his ways. Romans 12:2 urges us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Thirdly, we submit to the will of God because it produces the ultimate and greatest eternal good. Paul lets us know in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Even when God leads us into difficult circumstances, as with Jesus and the cross, we trust God works through these moments and beyond them for a greater purpose. Obedience might be difficult or involve hardship, but it always results in eternal blessing.
Finally, we look forward to the joy set before us. As Jesus-followers, we endure trials and challenges in this life with the assurance of eternal joy and rewards awaiting us in the life to come. This hope gives us strength for today. We shouldn’t treat the middle of the story like the end of the story. And we have confidence our end will be ultimate joy, both now and forever.
Why is Surrendering to God’s Will Challenging?
Everyone tries to save themselves. It’s become human nature from the time of the first Adam, when he and Eve chose to be their own moral standard instead of submitting to God. Our pride and selfish desires constantly pull us in the direction of what we feel is self-preservation and control. We resist the idea of letting go what we believe is best, even when God communicates his will is better.
No one naturally wants to give up their life. Surrender feels like a death to our desires, ambitions, and plans. Jesus calls his disciples to also experience the cross. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) Jesus’ life and moment at Gethsemane teaches us how to choose the cross, embracing self-denial, humility, and letting go of the desire to run our own life.
Despite how difficult the process of surrendering our will to God's is, Jesus promises that if we give our life for him, we truly find life. “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:35). We can’t save our own life. That effort is based on a lie and leads to death. However, when we submit our life to Christ, he knows exactly the life and meaning he created us for, and he leads us to abundant life and joy.
How Can Christians Embrace “Not My Will, But Yours Be Done”?
Jesus says to take up our cross daily, which means embracing “not my will, but yours be done” is a constant discipline, a constant surrender to Christ as Lord. The Scripture provides practical ways we can enter this discipline.
- Seek God through His Word. Knowing God’s will begins with reading and listening to the Spirit while reading the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 teaches that Scripture is “God-breathed,” infused with the Spirit, and is useful for teaching, correcting, and training righteousness. Regularly studying the Bible helps us discover God’s principles and align our lives to his desires for them.
- Surrender Daily in Prayer. The Apostle Paul tells us to pray without ceasing, and prayer undergirds the whole of Christian life. Just as Jesus prayed for God’s will in the Garden, we do the same. Christ also taught the Lord’s Prayer as a model, which includes “Your Kingdom come, your will be done.” (Matthew 6:10) Engaging directly with God allows us to ask for his wisdom, discernment, and insight in our daily decisions, big and small.
- Actively Listen to the Holy Spirit. All Christian discipline is designed to build relationship with God through the Spirit, who dwells within us. Over time and through maturity, we develop an awareness of the Spirit’s voice and presence to guide us on a moment-to-moment basis.
- Serve Others. Jesus’ submission to his Father included loving and ministering to others. Christ became an example of humility and service. Through serving others, we get the focus off of ourselves and onto those in need. Jesus even equates meeting people’s needs with ministering directly to him (Matthew 25:31-33). Through service, we practice humility and selflessness, and we discover the strength and love of God. Philippians 2:3-4 reminds us to value others above ourselves, practicing obedience to God’s commands through compassion.
While submitting our contrary will to God’s can feel like death, God’s goal is our life. As the Bible says, in our own strength and nature, we’re already dead. Our surrender merely recognizes this uncomfortable reality, but it doesn’t end there. The Father wants to bring us to an eternal life of joy and love in the Kingdom. Thankfully, the same Spirit within us was with Christ in Gethsemane. He can teach and help us to surrender for the joy set before us, too.
Peace.
Further Reading
What is Praying God’s Will?
Praying for God’s Will, Not Our Own
Where in the Bible is Jesus’ Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane?
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