39 “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.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:39–41 (ESV)
35 “And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:35–38 (ESV)
39 “And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:39–46 (ESV)
All three of the Synoptic Gospels reveal specific details concerning Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Most, if not all, believers in Christ are aware of Jesus’ prayer before God the Father.
Gethsemane was a critical moment in Jesus’ life and ministry. It was a preparation prelude for what was to transpire in the upcoming hours culminating with the Lord’s substitutionary atonement on the cross for sinners. All the Old Testament prophecies, beginning with Genesis 3:15, were about to be fulfilled.
“Christ’s humanity is different than ours in that His grief and weakness is never mixed with sin. Jesus is not questioning His Father’s wisdom when He asks the cup (that is, God’s wrath; see Jer. 25:15; Zech. 12:2) to pass from Him (Matt. 26:39, 42, 44). Instead, while bowing to the Almighty’s will, He admits honestly His dread of what is to come upon Him — divine affliction for the sins of His people,” states John Calvin.
“Jesus trembles in Gethsemane “because he [has] before his eyes the dreadful tribunal of God, and the Judge himself armed with inconceivable vengeance; and because our sins, the load of which [is] laid upon him, [presses] him down with their enormous weight.”
“Our prayers, Jesus shows us, may honestly confess the anguish we may feel when faced with the prospect of suffering for the Lord’s name as long as we submit to God’s will, no matter the pain that may come about,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Jesus told His disciples on many occasions that He would be crucified (Matt. 16:21-23). He instructed His disciples that He was the fulfillment of the Passover (Matt. 26:26-29). In His High Priestly Prayer in the Upper Room, Jesus acknowledged He accomplished what God the Father sent Him to do (John 17:1-5).
How did the disciples in general, and Peter, James and John in particular, react to Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane? Did they watch and pray with Him? Did they agonize for Him? They did not. They went to sleep.
“Sleeping at this hour, probably past midnight, was natural, especially after the exciting experiences in the Upper Room (the washing of the disciples’ feet, the revelation that one of The Twelve was going to betray his Master, the departure of Judas, the institution of the Lord’s Supper) and afterward (“All of you shall become untrue to me,” Peter’s protest, etc.). Nevertheless, these men should have stayed awake. They could have, had they only prayed for strength to do so. Though Christ’s gentle reprimand concerned all three—note the plural—yet it was addressed particularly to Peter, no doubt because in the matter of pledging his loyalty and even boasting about it he had taken the lead,” states Dr. William Hendriksen.
Prayer was not the priority of Jesus’ disciples in Gethsemane. They went to sleep, ill prepared for what is to come (Matt. 26:40, 43, 45). Are we prayerfully prepared for what may occur in our lives as we live and serve the LORD?
Soli deo Gloria!
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