Not My Will

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 26:36-46)

Thoughts: Gethsemane was an olive grove at the foot of the Mount of Olives.  Its name means "Olive Press."  Here Jesus was under tremendous pressure spiritually.  Jesus admits the sorrow of his torturous and the weight of the world on Him was making Him as sad as He could be and still live.  He asks that the disciples watch with Him.  He wanted them to be His companions and to pray with Him.
     He asked, "If it is possible"... It was not.  But Jesus teaches us in His sorrow how we should pray- "Not my will but thine be done."  It is similar to "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  All our prayers- big or small- the ones answered by yes or no- are all submitted to God's will. 
     He found them sleeping twice.  They were probably exhausted with the stress of Jesus' predictions of His death.  Out of their sleep they were stirred to wake up to a betrayal and arrest.  It is very sad that the stress of life kept them from being awake when Jesus needed them to be alert.  Let us be alert when we need to be.  This may mean being aware of when we go to sleep before worship, or before a big event where we serve God. 

Prayer: Lord, let your will be done in me.  I submit my will to you and your will.