February 16th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

CHRIST’S ACTIVE OBEDIENCE      

Matthew 26:36 – 38 “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”  

Jesus, as a true human, acted in place of all humanity under God’s law to keep it perfectly. Theologians speak of this as the “active obedience” of Jesus. St. Paul wrote concerning Jesus’ active obedience, “ . . .by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” Not only did Jesus keep God’s law perfectly for you and all your fellow human beings, He also suffered and died for the guilt of all sinners in payment for their sins which theologians described as His “passive obedience.”   

Today’s devotional verses find Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane fulfilling the mission His heavenly Father sent Him to do. He is in the garden because He is feeling the terrible burden of the sins of humanity which He has taken upon Himself. He is headed to Calvary’s cross to make payment for them with His suffering and death. He is in need of His Father’s strength to enable Him to carry out this role.   

Jesus was in the garden for you. He was carrying the burden of your sins so you don’t have to carry them yourself. He was in the garden in His full humanity, on His knees in prayer, carrying the burden of your sin sweating great drops of blood.   

Prayer: You have said to me, Dear Jesus, to cast my sins upon You. I lay my griefs, my cares, and my burdens upon You because I know You care for me. In Your holy name. Amen. 

I lay my sins on Jesus,
The spotless Lamb of God;  
He bears them all and frees us
From the accursed load.  
I bring my guilt to Jesus
Tow ash my crimson stains  
Clean in His blood most precious
Till not a spot remains. 

I lay my wants on Jesus;
All fullness dwells in Him;  
He heals all my diseases;
My soul He does redeem.  
I lay my griefs on Jesus,
My burdens and my cares;  
He from them all releases;
He all my sorrows shares. 

I rest my soul on Jesus,
This weary soul of mine;  
His right hand me embraces;
I on His breast recline.  
I love the name of Jesus,
Immanuel, Christ, the Lord;  
Like fragrance on the breezes
His name abroad is poured.  

I Lay My Sins on Jesus // LSB 606