Jesus’ Agony In Gethsemane

“Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.” Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. Then He *came to the 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. Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”

‭‭MATTHEW‬ ‭26:36-46‬ ‭‬‬‬‬

Think about the greatest agony you have ever felt, by far the greatest pain you’ve ever experienced. Now think about that times a thousand. Sometimes we forget that Christ was also all man,(“The Son Of Man”) wich means he too felt agony and pain.

This passage really speaks to my hart, Christ felt agony to the point that He felt the need to take someone to pray with Him. He’s God! Why would He need some sinners to pray with him? Well we see here that in deed He felt the need of a friend to stand by with Him and pray with Him without ceasing. The Lord needed His Father to strengthen Him, how much more us?

Christ felt the need of His disciples' companionship in prayer. I think we can all relate to that. When we are in great despair and we wish to have someone there fighting the good fight next to us threw prayer. Oh, how great we have lost this amongst us brethren. That instead of remaining with each other in prayer we criticize each other for our weaknesses. It’s gotten to the point that we don’t feel the confidence to open up with each others because we cant trust each other anymore. Lord help us! How will we fight against the army of satan if we can’t even pray together?

Like the disciples we too can let each other down. Think about a person who needed your help but you pushed away. Think about a person who came to you in great agony who you criticized instead of comforting. Look for that person, love them and remain in prayer with them.

With out ceasing: Again, Jesus needed His Father to strengthen Him. How much more us?

“Watch and pray so that you will not falll into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Those words run threw my head as I think of all the things I could have avoided if I wouldn’t of neglected prayer. The disiples were confident in themselves. They felt confident enough tell Jesus that they will even die with Him, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you. And all the disciples said the same” (John 26:35). Can you imagine what things they would have avoided if they would of just remained with Christ in prayer?

This lesson is true for us too. Jesus didn’t stop praying; He didn’t stop until he was strengthen.(Three times he went back to wrestle threw prayer) How many times have we wrestle in prayer? We want God to answer us but we don’t even ask. “We talk about God but never talk to God” (John Piper)

Let's seek the Lord always! Don’t rely on your own strength. Some people mis quote the Bible and say that, “God will never give you more that you can handle.” That’s not true. God will always give you more than you can handle. In those times, we learn to depend in God. If that were to be true, then we will never need God. Why would I need God is He only gives me what I can handle?

Seek Him brother and sister. Seek him until your strengthen enough to say, “Rise, Let us go!” (John 26:46)

published: April 2019