Gethsemane, Matthew 26:36

This post concerns how Jesus felt in Gethsemane.

Gethsemane discusses a vital lesson from Jesus’ experience in the garden, Matthew 26:36. “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.”

He took Peter, James, and John and went a bit further, Matthew 26:38. “Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch with me.”

Then he went further, fell on his face, and prayed about His upcoming sacrifice, Matthew 26:39. “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

However, He found the disciples sleeping. Twice more He prayed the same prayer. After that, they returned to the other disciples.

This critical time in the life of Jesus shows two characteristics:

a.He was sorrowful about the coming sacrifice He would make and asked the Father if there was some other way.
b.He showed clearly by His statements that His main concern was doing the will of the Father.

It must have been a mental battle between avoiding the cross and doing the will of the Father. In the end, the will of the Father dominated.

Gethsemane shows a time of sorrow for Jesus. He asked for the cup to pass. But He always added that He recognized that the Father’s will should dominate.

Consider what happened before this hour of prayer: He had received cheers during the triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Yet, He knew the crowd would not faithfully follow Him, Luke 19:41-44. “…when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it… “Would that you… had known on this day the things that make for peace!

Judas Iscariot had remained a disciple for over two years. However, Jesus acknowledged at His final supper that Judas would betray Him.

So, what did we learn?

1.Jesus expressed sorrow and asked for another way to accomplish His Father’s will.

2.Jesus always placed His Father’s will first.

This becomes an important lesson for our prayers: God’s will, not our wishes, should dominate.

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#JesusPraysGethsemane #JesusGod’sWillFirst