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Leg 4 Day 44
Gethsemane: Jesus Prays in Agony
Jesus In Us
Scripture:
JOHN 18:1 // MATTHEW 26:36-46
JOHN 18:1 (NLT)
After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees.
MATTHEW 26:36-46 (NIV)
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
SEE ALSO:
MARK 14:32-42; LUKE 22:39-46
Life Lessons from Jesus:
It is normal and human to reach out to God with our true feelings when we’re experiencing something extreme. He is always open to receive our tears, frustrations, and honesty. And He is no stranger to prayers about suffering. Even Jesus asked His Father to relieve His impending suffering when He was about to face the cruelty of the cross and a separation from the Father that he might pay the penalty for the sins of the world across time. This was a very human prayer, and Jesus did not shy away from it. His reaching out to God is a great example of His humanity. In His prayer, He asked if there was anything else that could be done to save the world, yet at the same time He submitted to God’s plan regardless.
Whatever it is you’re facing, you can always bring it before God. You can always let Him know how you’re feeling, whether you’re angry, sad, hurting, humiliated, or scared. And the comforting part is He already knows.
As Jesus approached such a horrific moment, He was overwhelmed with grief “to the point of death.” Yet He was still determined to do as His Father wanted, even though it meant humiliation, suffering, and death. Despite knowing what was to come, He prayed, “Your will be done.” Jesus was overwhelmed with horrible grief and still loved us enough to sacrifice Himself on our behalf.
The WAY:
Consider these questions as you reflect on today’s reading:
Do you show God your true emotions when you talk to Him? Even if they’re emotions of anger or hurt?
How might your prayer life benefit from that kind of honesty and open communication?
What lessons of surrender and trust can you learn from Jesus’s prayer in Gethsemane?
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for showing us Your humanity, that you struggled with pain and humiliation just as we do and still managed to follow God’s plan. I want my prayer life to become more honest, to have real and open communication with You. Help me to trust that I can do that and express my real feelings, even when they feel shameful or wrong. You already know what’s in my heart. Help me to be willing to talk to You about it. In Your name, Amen.