Jesus in the Garden

36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39Going 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.”

40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42He 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.”

43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

45Then 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. 46Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” (Matthew 26:36-36)

Thoughts: This is not the garden where he walks with me and talks with me.  This is the garden where Jesus was praying in deep agony.  Some say he is agonizing over paying for our sin.  Some say he is agonizing over the pain he is about to face.  But the real agony is the spiritual agony.  Jesus did not complain about his head, hands, or feet- though he had every right to.  He never complained or whined about being the sacrifice for us.  His real agony was the innocent and holy one being separated from the love of the Father- the Holy One.  But even though he asked three times, he then realized it was God's will- and faced it head on ("Rise- let us go.").  When we cannot change our circumstances and life is hitting us hard- let us rise and go forward believing that even if we face a cross- there is always a resurrection for those who believe.   

Prayer: Lord, not my will, but thine be done in the big and little things of my life.  May how I face life honor and glorify you.