THIS CUP TO NEVERTHELESS

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968, killed at age 39) said, “One must learn to make the transition from “let this cup pass from me” to “nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done.” And God grant that as you face life with all of its decision – as you face the bitter cup which you will inevitably face from day to day – God grant that you will learn this one thing and that is to make the transition from “this cup” to “nevertheless.” …This, you see, is the thing that determines whether you go through life devoted to an eternal cause or whether you go through life depending on your own finite answers, which really turn out to be no answers. This is the thing that determines whether you can rise out of your egocentric predicament to devotion to a higher cause. This is what Jesus was able to do and this is the lesson that he presents to us today.”

Source: “Garden of Gethsemane” sermon, Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL, April 14, 1957

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Jesus