Oh, What a Love! How God’s “No” Saved the World By Pastor Jim Cymbala

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Oh, What a Love!

How God’s “No” Saved the World

By Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

출처 https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ohwhatalove/

듣기 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTmRKCdazX0&list=PLzzMcu25O6RYXBcsG4BtzuEt08kB1R25S&index=157

The disciples didn’t know [what was coming].

They couldn’t imagine it.

Jesus was facing an end of life /unlike anything () they could even think of.

It wasn’t just the crucifixion () Jesus faced, which would be extremely nasty,

but it was also bearing the sins of the world /while on the cross—becoming a curse /so we could be blessed.

Imagine the compassion () Jesus had /on His followers /as He looked at them:

“They don’t know [what I’m facing], but I’m going to do it /for them.”

As the Lord entered the garden of Gethsemane, He said /to His disciples, “‘Sit here while I pray’” (Mark 14:32, NIV).

Jesus—perfect, Emmanuel, God with us in human form—felt a necessity to pray.

But today we have churches, pastors, and Christians //who barely pray

—they’re on their phones /five hours a day /but can’t take even twenty minutes /to pray.

That doesn’t sound right.

So Jesus “took Peter, James and John along with him,

and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled” (Mark 14:33, NIV).

Jesus, the Son of God, had to pray /to get strength to go through [what He was facing].

He saw [the cross] [looming ahead of Him] and the burden of the sins of the world //that were going to come /on Him.

We can’t understand that.

How would we, as regular human beings, understand [what Jesus felt /coming on Him]?

Darkness?

You and I don’t even know [what darkness is]!

It was all going to fall on Him,

and God had to strike Him and punish Him /as our substitute /so that we would be blessed.

He would take the curse.

And Jesus sensed [it] [coming].

* [what] [Jesus] felt [목] [coming on Him], sensed [it] [coming]. 감각동사 5 형식

“My soul is overwhelmed /with sorrow /to the point of death,” Jesus said to His disciples.

“Stay here and keep watch” (Mark 14:34, NIV).

He almost died /from the stress inside.

He almost didn’t make it /to the cross.

Oh, we don’t know [what He was going through].

“Going a little farther, he fell /to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.

‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you.

Take this cup /from me’” (Mark 14:35–36, NIV).

It was so horrible

—the cup () Jesus had to drink /of judgment, wrath, punishment, and holy anger against sin—

that He not only felt () He was going to die from a heart attack or some bursting of His inner being,

but He told the Father plainly, “Take this cup from me.” Jesus said those five words.

His human side, seeing the suffering coming, cried, “Let me /out of this.”

We don’t understand the mixture of divinity and humanity.

But can we at least get some feeling of it?

“Take it from Me. I can’t endure it. I’ll die before I get to the cross!”

But then Jesus, faced with this agony, this anguish, the unspeakable, prayed,

“Nevertheless—even though all things are possible for You—not My will but Yours be done” (see Mark 14:36).

This shows [us] [that some prayers are not answered].

Jesus said, “Take this cup from me,” and God’s will was done:

Jesus went /to the cross.

The cup was not taken from Him.

The Father’s will was, “No, that’s [why I sent You].”

What would have happened /if He had avoided the cross?

Thank God for Jesus.

The pain, the suffering, was all because of us, not anything () Jesus did.

And [what He went through] made the way for us to be saved.

Oh, what a love!

But on the other side of the suffering, the Father’s will was,

“I’ll raise You /from the dead and give [You] [a name above every other name].”

It bothers me sometimes /when churches want [their names] [remembered].

Enough of our churches and our denominations and our pastors’ names—including my own!

Jesus is the sweetest name () I know.

How about for you?

Let’s honor His name today and worship it /all day long.

Prayer

Lord, we don’t love You enough today.

Thank You for Your unfathomable love and sacrifice.

Help [us] [to lift up Your name] and not our own.

If this encouraged you, you can receive [Pastor Cymbala’s weekly blog post] /by email here.

For More Encouragement

Listen to the full message by Pastor Jim Cymbala: “What Great Love!”

Enjoy other resources to help you draw closer to God: “The Truth about Suffering” and “Suffering and Joy”

Visit Pastor Cymbala’s Facebook page