YEA Lesson Library

The Lesson

In the 1998 hit movie, “Saving Private Ryan,” Tom Hanks plays the part of Captain John H. Miller of the US Army during World War II. After successfully securing a beach during D-Day on June 4, 1944, Captain Miller is given a specific assignment. He is to take a support unit of 8 men and locate Private James H. Ryan of Iowa whose 3 brothers all perished during the raids. The movie chronicles their trek across the fields of France in search of what Captain Miller calls “a needle among the needles.”

In selecting the members of the unit to support him, Captain Miller knew that he would need an interpreter who knew both French and German fluently. The only person with those particular skills happened to be a young corporal – a map maker who had not lifted a weapon since his days in basic training. The corporal understood the need for his linguistic skills, but could not fathom what other use he might be, and, in fact, considered himself to be a potential drain on the others.

After finding Private Ryan, the captain and his unit found that they were likely to come under some severe fire from approaching Germans. He loaded the young corporal with a calculated variety of ammunition. He gave him detailed instructions to keep watch for whoever had the most immediate needs. The linguist was unaccustomed to the rigors of battle and the multiple types of ammunition he was carrying. The young corporal felt that he was ill-equipped to adequately handle his assignment. Because of his feelings of inadequacy, he nearly cost the unit the success of its mission.


Even though Jesus’ disciples had spent three and a half years training under Him, when the chips were down and the real test came they appeared ill-equipped. These men were from a variety of back- grounds and each felt differently about their own qualifications to handle their assignments. Nearing the end of His life, Jesus asked three of them, Peter, James and John (the two sons of Zebedee) to perform a simple, yet very supportive role – to wait and watch with Him. He needed them to give their presence, prayers and support. They were equipped to handle His requests, but failed the test. They did not fully understand the mission of Christ, and thus failed to see the importance of the supportive role they were asked to play.

After partaking of the Passover with Jesus, His disciples went with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane in a supportive role. The weight of all the sins of the world were upon Jesus. He told His disciples to sit down and wait while He prayed. Peter, James and John went with Him. By now, His anguish and despair were almost unbearable. “My soul is crushed with horror and sadness to the point of death . . . stay here . . . stay awake with me.” He said. He took a few steps and fell on His face on the ground and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup be taken away from me. But I want your will, not mine.”

He went back where His disciples were sitting and found they had fallen asleep. Becoming increasingly certain of what the next day held for Him, His anguish alone was deep enough to almost kill Him. He wanted His disciples to stay awake and pray. Yet at a time like this, there was no support from His disciples. They fell asleep. “Peter, couldn’t you even stay awake with me one hour?” Jesus asked. “Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For the spirit indeed is willing, but how weak the body is!” (TLB).

Jesus felt the overpowering need to go back and pray again; “My Father! If this cup cannot go away until I drink it all, your will be done.” Jesus was tempted to seek an alternative to fulfill His Father’s redemptive purpose. He may not have known whether any other way was possible. He agonized in prayer and was supernaturally strengthened (Luke 22:43). Through it all, He learned that to do the will of His Father, there was no other way than to submit to the excruciating death on the stake.

Again when He returned, His disciples were asleep. So, He went back the third time and prayed the same thing. He now knew that He must give the supreme sacrifice – His life – for your sins and mine. Then Judas arrived with the Jewish leaders to arrest Him, try Him and then crucify Him.

Oftentimes, we do not understand the importance of the situation and our supportive role. Neither did the disciples understand the awesome events taking place before their own eyes. Their understanding did not come until after Christ’s death, resurrection and the arrival of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

What took place on the Passover was the greatest gift ever given for you. Jesus Christ’s death on the stake provides you with the only way that you can escape death for your sins. Jesus passed the test, and He did it without any help from a human being. It’s not often that the test we face is death. Your test will most likely come in such forms as: will you work on the Sabbath, failure to study and pray, use profanity, etc. When these things are put in perspective, they seem insignificant compared with the test Jesus faced in the Garden that night. But every day that passes, we have to decide if we will do God’s will or ours. Just as Jesus had no support from any human being, you may not have it either. But as Jesus had the help of His Father in heaven, you can also have it. When your test comes, are you willing to say as Jesus did, “Not my will but your will be done in my life”?