The Choice

There’s a moment every firefighter knows — when the alarm sounds, and you have to decide whether you’re willing to run toward what everyone else is running away from.

I’ll never forget one particular call years ago.

We arrived to find a house fully engulfed in flames.

On the porch stood a woman, screaming, “My baby! My baby’s inside!”

Every instinct in me wanted to stop — to calculate the risk, to think about my own family waiting at home.

But in that split second, I made the choice to go in.

A choice that defined my career and could have cost me everything.

Tonight, I want to talk to you about another choice —

The final choice Jesus made in the Garden of Gethsemane.

1. The Weight of the Cup

Let’s step into the garden.

It’s dark.

It’s quiet — except for the sound of Jesus crying out.

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”

The weight is crushing Him.

And He prays:

“Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me.”

This cup wasn’t just suffering.

It wasn’t just about the whips or the nails. It was the full weight of God’s wrath against the sin of the world.

Every betrayal.

Every lie.

Every secret sin.

All poured into that cup. And Jesus knew — if He drank it, He would face something He had never known:

Separation from His Father.

2. The Struggle with the Cup

Three times, Jesus goes back and prays the same prayer:

"Father, if there’s any other way…"

Can you see Him? Kneeling in the dirt... Sweating drops of blood...Struggling.

And while He is fighting the greatest spiritual battle of His life —

His closest friends are asleep.

He tells them, “Couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?”

They couldn’t.

And if we’re honest — how many times have we done the same?

Falling asleep spiritually when Jesus is calling us to watch and pray.

How many times have we chosen comfort over commitment, sleep over surrender?

3. The Strength to Drink the Cup

But then something shifts.

After the third time praying, Jesus stands and says,

“The hour has come.”

In other words: “I’ve made My choice.”

He didn’t run... He didn’t resist... He walked toward the cross.

Why? Because He saw your face.

He knew what it would cost — and still chose love.

Closing Challenge – What’s Your Cup?

Let me ask you tonight:

What cup is God asking you to drink?

Maybe it’s the cup of forgiveness.

Maybe it’s surrendering control.

Maybe it’s stepping into a calling that scares you.

The weight is heavy.

The struggle is real.

But hear me — If you will choose surrender over sleep and obedience over comfort — you will find the same strength Jesus found.

Gethsemane wasn’t the end.

The cup led to the cross, but the cross led to an empty tomb.

Jesus’ final choice wasn’t about Him — it was about you.

Now the question is…

What choice will you make?

Closing Prayer:

“Lord, tonight we stand in the garden with You.

Forgive us when we choose comfort over calling.

Forgive us when we fall asleep while You are inviting us to pray.

Tonight, we say: ‘Not my will, but Yours be done.’

Give us the strength to drink the cup You’ve placed before us.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.”