We are a people in transition, constantly changing as we journey through life. From a babe to a child, from a child to a youth, from a youth to an adult, from singlehood to married life and from young to old. Physically, we didn't switch from one stage to another instantaneously but we gradually change from one age to another over time. Spiritually, we are changed into His likeness, day by day, from faith to faith, from strength to strength, from glory to glory. Slowly but surely. To be more like Him each new day. We are not yet perfect, and are all in some point of transition in our lives.

From the time we accept Jesus into our lives to the time we meet Him in glory, we are constantly becoming to be the person that He desires us to be. As we undergo the periods of transitions, we will be tested and tried through temptations, sins and life struggles, constantly wrestling and fighting within and without.

In the midst of all our transitions, there is a place called Surrender when we begin to align our will with God's will. Not our will but His will be done, allowing Christ to work in and through us!

Our best example of total surrender is Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

John 18:1-11
When Jesus had spoken these words,
He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron,
where there was a garden,
which He and His disciples entered.
And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place;
for Jesus often met there with His disciples.
Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops,
and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees,
came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
Jesus therefore, knowing all things
that would come upon Him,
went forward and said to them,
"Whom are you seeking?"
They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth."
Jesus said to them, "I am He."
And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them.
Then--when He said to them, "I am He,"
--they drew back and fell to the ground.
Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?"
And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He.
Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,"
that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke,
"Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."
Then Simon Peter, having a sword,
drew it and struck the high priest's servant,
and cut off his right ear.
The servant's name was Malchus.
Then Jesus said to Peter,
"Put your sword into the sheath.
Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?"

Many Bibles have outlines and titles given to the above scriptural passage, and one of them reads, "The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus." This passage title is at best only half the truth. For it is not just the "arrest" of Jesus to the will of His enemies but more correctly, the "surrender" of Jesus to the will of His Father.

Gethsemane was and is still a garden. The Fall of mankind took place in a garden called Eden when man disobeyed the will of God, and sinned against God. But Jesus did the exact reverse. He came into the garden, and prayed, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." (Luke 22:42)

Adam sinned through disobedience but Jesus saved through obedience. Adam rebelled against the will of God but Jesus surrendered Himself to the will of God! For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Cor 15:22)

1. Jesus Surrendered Willingly

First of all, Jesus surrendered Himself willingly. Many verses in John 18 suggested in one way or another that Jesus willingly surrendered Himself to be captured in Gethsemane.

In verse 2, Jesus went to a place that Judas knew. It was also a place where Jesus often met with His disciples. There was an interval of at least two hours between the dismissal of Judas from the Upper Room and the actual arrest in the Garden. During that duration, Jesus could have escaped by leaving Jerusalem, or hiding Himself in some places where Judas did not know about so that the Jewish leaders could not have found Him easily. If Jesus had chosen to escape, Judas' betrayal would have backfired and brought disaster upon himself as he would not be able to produce Jesus for arrest. Then the disappointed priests would have wreaked their anger on Judas instead of Jesus! Jesus could have saved Himself by escaping somewhere else, and at the same time disposing Judas, His betrayer. But instead, He went to the garden with full knowledge that Judas had gone to the priests to betray Him for some money, and would come looking for Him in this garden.

In verse 3, the chief priests, Pharisees and soldiers came there, looking for Jesus with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Why did they need to carry weapons? They must have thought that Jesus might resist and His disciples might fight back. But Jesus didn't rebel and fight against them. Instead, He went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?" They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He."

Jesus did the exact opposite of Adam. After Adam sinned, God called to him and said to him, "Where are you?" and Adam said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself." (Genesis 3:9-10) Jesus didn't hide but He faced His enemies openly without any fear whereas Adam hid away from His God with fear and trembling.

When Jesus said to them, "I am He,"--they drew back and fell to the ground. They must be astonished, completely taken off by what Jesus said! Maybe the power of God zapped them. And when they fell to the ground, it was a golden opportunity for Jesus to escape, leaving them in their panic and confusion. But Jesus did not. He surrendered Himself willingly to the will of the Father. He knew that He was led to the slaughter, not by the will of men but the will of God!

Jesus surrendered Himself willingly without showing any resistance! However one of His beloved disciples did put on some opposition. Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?"

In the Gospel of Matthew, we find more details of the same event:

Matthew 26:52-54
But Jesus said to him,
"Put your sword in its place,
for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father,
and He will provide Me
with more than twelve legions of angels?
How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled,
that it must happen thus?"

Jesus could have prayed to the Father asking for 12 legions of angels to protect and deliver Him. A legion is the principal unit of the Roman army, consisting of 3,000 to 6,000 infantry troops and 100 to 200 cavalrymen. The New Testament does not use the word legion in its strict military sense, but in a general sense to express a large number. Twelve legions of angels might amount to 72,000 angels or more! That was definitely more than enough to wipe off all the enemies of Christ! But Jesus did not exercise that option. He did not pray for angelic intervention.

He willingly drank the cup which His Father had given Him. In Luke 22:42, Jesus prayed, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." The Father did not take away the cup from Jesus. In fact, it was the Father Who presented the cup for Jesus to drink. A cup that was extremely painful and deadly to partake! To drink the cup was the will of the Father, not the will of men. Jesus surrendered willingly to the will of the Father.

2. Jesus Surrendered Lovingly

Secondly, Jesus surrendered Himself lovingly to the will of the Father.

John 10:15-18
As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father;
and I lay down My life for the sheep.
And other sheep I have which are not of this fold;
them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice;
and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
Therefore My Father loves Me,
because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.
I have power to lay it down,
and I have power to take it again.
This command I have received from My Father."

No one could take the life of Jesus from Him, but He laid it down Himself lovingly! He is the great Shepherd of love, sacrificing His life for His sheep! He came in love and gave His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). Jesus not only had power to lay His life down, He also had power to take it again.

His divine love compelled Him to surrender completely to the will of the Father, knowing that His death would bring salvation for us and deliver us from our sins!

Jesus loves the Father, and the Father loves Him. He always does those things that please the Father.

John 8:28-29
Then Jesus said to them,
"When you lift up the Son of Man,
then you will know that I am He,
and that I do nothing of Myself;
but as My Father taught Me,
I speak these things.
And He who sent Me is with Me.
The Father has not left Me alone,
for I always do those things that please Him."

The cross was the best and ultimate declaration and proclamation of God's love for a lost mankind!

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God did not send His Son into the world
to condemn the world,
but that the world through Him might be saved.

Mankind was separated from God because of sin. But according to the good pleasure of His will and to the praise of the glory of His grace, Jesus has made us accepted by the Father! In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence! (Ephesians 1:5-8).

His love brought us forgiveness and now we are reconciled back with God, no longer condemned but redeemed and have everlasting life! Now we love Him because He first loved us! (1 John 4:19)

I believe that Charles Wesley understood the love of Christ truly well when he wrote the lyrics of the hymn "And Can It Be That I Should Gain" in 1738:

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain-
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

'Tis mystery all: th' Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father's throne above
So free, so infinite His grace-
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race:
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray-
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th' eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th' eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Amazing love! How can it be, that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Yes, Jesus surrendered lovingly to the will of the Father! He loved the Father and He also loved us. His unconditional love brought Him to lay down His life in the cross!

3. Jesus Surrendered Completely

Finally, Jesus surrendered completely to the will of the Father! He didn't give up halfway! He went all the way to the cross and died!

Philippians 2:5-11
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, being in the form of God,
did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
but made Himself of no reputation,
taking the form of a bondservant,
and coming in the likeness of men.
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself
and became obedient to the point of death,
even the death of the cross.
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him
and given Him the name which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of those in heaven, and of those on earth,
and of those under the earth,
and that every tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus came from heaven to earth as a helpless Babe. He lived and grew as a Boy in the likeness of men, and yet sinned not. He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. He didn't give up halfway through disappointments, distractions and discouragements! He went all the way and paid the full price at the cross! He surrendered completely to the will of the Father! Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

A. W. Tozer wrote, "The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves. We're still trying to give orders, and interfering with God's work within us." This is a true saying as we have not completely surrendered ourselves to God.

When faced with our own limitations, we react with irritation, anger, and resentment. We want to be taller, smarter, stronger, more talented, more beautiful, and wealthier. We want to have it all and do it all. And we become upset when we have not or cannot or when others would not let us or when it does not happen. When we see others have what we don't have, we respond with envy, jealousy and self-pity. And we become angry with God. We have not completely surrendered our will to God just like Adam! But Jesus did! He completely surrendered to the Father, and the Father highly exalted Him and gave Him a Name above every name!

We are in the midst of transition! And these are precious moments. When we begin to listen and hear His voice, we will feel how He feels and see how He sees. Until we come to the end of ourselves and surrender completely to God, we will still be seeking after worldly treasures and empty pleasures even in the midst of praise and worship inside churches and services.

We are waiting and still waiting to be completely transformed. And perseverance and patience are necessary. The passage of time through testings, trials and temptations. We want to see His glory but He wants to see His glory shining inside and through us. He wants to see His image reflected in us!

He is calling us to a place called Surrender, coming before Him and resting completely in Him. A place where spiritual warfare is fought on our knees as we quiet our souls, be still and know that He is God!