Matthew 26:36 –46 The Prayer in the Garden
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
The disciples are totally exhausted! It’s been a trying week, starting with Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to the adulation of the crowds, followed by Jesus doing intensive teaching-literally a cram course in discipleship-and then Jesus’ repeated predictions that he is about to die. The disciples are worried, tired, and emotionally drained. Now Jesus goes to the Garden of Gethsemane, a place where the disciples and he have met many times. Jesus selects Peter, James, and John to accompany him further into the garden; however, he also orders the remaining disciples to sit in one location while he goes off to pray. Jesus expects that these disciples will pray along with him, even while he is praying privately. Even if these disciples fail, Jesus hopes that Peter, James, and John will stay awake and support him in prayer.
Sadly, all the disciples, including the chosen three, fail completely, falling deeply asleep.
Little do the disciples realize that they need prayer for themselves as much as Jesus needs them to pray with him.
Many times, we feel quite superior about praying for others. We are more than willing to pray for THOSE PEOPLE, because we feel that they REALLY need prayer! As for us, we’re fine, thanks. We fail to realize that we may need prayer more than those for whom we are praying. God calls us to intercede for others because while we are praying, God can move in our lives just as much-or more- than in the lives of our friends.
Jesus has just informed the disciples that all of them are going to desert him; yet, the disciples are so sure of themselves that they succumb to sleep instead of praying. The results are described in the next portion of Scripture.
Matthew 26:47-56 Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane
“And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.
Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”
Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”
In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”
Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.”
The inevitable attack has come. Judas along with “a great multitude from the elders and high priests” arrive, and Judas betrays Jesus with the kiss that is normally a sign of brotherhood. One of the disciples makes a frenzied attempt at retaliation; however, Jesus rebukes him and submits to the arrest. The huge crowd screaming for Jesus’ blood, the torches, the violence-all is too much, and the disciples flee as rapidly as possible.
We read these accounts and feel somewhat smug. WE would NEVER have deserted Jesus…or would we? Sadly, any one of us might respond just as the disciples have done. Failing to pray for our friends and ourselves, failing to stay awake and watch when friends need us, crumpling under pressure-each one of us has the potential for similar failures. If we are honest, we can all think of times when we have failed ourselves and others.
There are many times when God allows us to encounter bad situations that test us beyond our own spiritual, emotional, and physical resources. God wants us to learn to depend on Him, rather than on ourselves. When we depend on God, He can give us strength and courage we would never have by ourselves. During my career as a missionary doctor, there have been many times when I have been forced to work alone, facing large numbers of needy patients and emergency operations. Looking back, I have no idea how I have survived those times, apart from the grace of God. Only God can give us that kind of strength and endurance.
There’s a popular saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.” But the reality is that we all need the grace of God and everything that goes with it to survive and to successfully meet the challenges of such situations. Far better to remain humble and to rely on God for help than to try to do everything on our own and fall flat on our faces.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to remain humble and to realize that You are our Source for strength, endurance, courage, and grace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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