Three times has He uttered that prayer. Three times has humanity shrunk from the last, crowning sacrifice. But now the history of the human race comes up before the world's Redeemer. He sees that the transgressors of the law, if left to themselves, must perish. He sees the helplessness of man. He sees the power of sin. The woes and lamentations of a doomed world rise before Him. He beholds its impending 693 fate, and His decision is made. He will save man at any cost to Himself. He accepts His baptism of blood, that through Him perishing millions may gain everlasting life. He has left the courts of heaven, where all is purity, happiness, and glory, to save the one lost sheep, the one world that has fallen by transgression. And He will not turn from His mission. He will become the propitiation of a race that has willed to sin. His prayer now breathes only submission: "If this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done."

Tre gange havde han opsendt denne bøn. Tre gange var hans menneskelige væsen veget tilbage fra det sidste, afgørende offer. Men nu viser menneskeslægtens historie sig for verdens Frelser. Han ser, at lovens overtræder må gå til grunde, hvis de bliver overladt til sig selv. Han ser menneskets hjælpeløshed. Han ser syndens magt. En fortabt verdens lidelser og elendighed viser sig for ham. Han ser den skæbne, der truer den, og han træffer sin afgørelse. Han vil frelse mennesket, hvad det end skal koste ham selv. Han tager imod sin blodige dåb, for at fortabte millioner kan vinde evigt liv. Han har forladt de himmelske boliger, hvor alt er renhed, lykke og herlighed, for at frelse det ene mistede får, den eneste verden, der er gået fortabt på grund af overtrædelse. Og han vil ikke vige fra sin opgave. Han vil være sonofferet for en slægt, der har valgt at synde. Nu ånder hans bøn kun lydighed: "Hvis denne kalk ikke kan gå mig forbi, men jeg skal drikke den, så ske din vilje!"