A lesson on the portion God gives us in life, and trusting in the goodness of God's will. As Jesus' High Priestly prayer draws to a close, the Gospel of John shifts to the final stage of the account, centering on the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord. As we consider that Jesus went to the garden (what we refer to as the Garden of Gethsemane), we can extrapolate a principle which Christ models for us: to be in prayer constantly, knowing that it is far better that we drink the portion God has given us in life, than to pursue the portion another hand offers.

Though this is difficult for many to grasp, the truth is, any plan other than God's ultimately falls short of the standard of goodness which God sets forth. Any scheme or ruling of our own life surely leads to sin and death, just as it did for Adam and Eve. And indeed, to submit ourselves to the will of God will be a struggle, unless we learn to acknowledge the sovereign purposes of God in them. We know that He works all things together for good, for those who love Him, and are called according to His purposes. And because God's plans are good, we can rest assured that even in our toughest trials and temptations, God is working it all for His glory, and for our good. Our response must be to fall to our knees in worship and prayer to Him. Make a habit of praying to God, as the neglect of which is often the beginning of backsliding and spiritual lethargy. Aligning our will with God's will always yields good fruit. Therefore, refuse to enter a situation without receiving the blessing of setting your mind and heart to do the will of God in earnest prayer.

It is interesting to note that unlike the synoptic gospels, which all record Jesus' personal prayer to the Father, along with His sorrow and agony just prior to the cross, that portion is essentially omitted in John's account. That is not to say that it was without being alluded to. In fact, much of John's gospel foreshadows this very moment. It is best to understand then that the focus in the Gospel of John with regard to this moment is not so much on the agony of the cross to come, but rather on the joyful submission of Christ to do the will of the Father, as is so commonly emphasized throughout this book. Let us likewise yield our lives to God, taking whatever cup is set before us, knowing that Christ has taken the bitter cup of death and God's wrath for us. Therefore, our portion is always an outflowing of the abundance of goodness which God has purposed and secured for us through the atoning death of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.