HOST: Ron House
SPONSOR: Start2Finish
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
The time of His suffering is at hand, and as Jesus goes to God in prayer, He is overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment. The scene at Gethsemane is full of imagery that is both beautiful and powerful. We see in this scene Jesus the man—filled with dread and trepidation because of the pain, suffering, and humiliation He knows is coming. As important and necessary as Jesus knows His sacrifice to be, His human side does not want to go through the coming events, and He prays to be saved from this moment. On the other hand, we see Jesus as One wholly committed to His Father and His plan. Even in His overwhelming dread, Jesus denies His own human desire and commits Himself to God’s will. As He pours out His heart to God in prayer, His will becomes one with the Father’s. In that moment, as Jesus releases His own will and entrusts His life into the hands of His Father, He finds the strength to overcome His fear and face with courage and resolve His appointed role of atoning sacrifice. What a beautiful picture of faith and faithfulness!
What can we learn from Jesus’ prayers in the garden?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
