PRAYING THE HEART OF JESUS (4)

“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there” – Matthew 26:36

The deepest display of PRAYING the HEART of JESUS seemed have been in the Garden of Gethesemane: “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there” (Mt.26:36). Details of this are also recorded in Mark 14:32-41 and Luke 22:39-46. The writer of Hebrews described the Agony of Gethsemane: “who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up PRAYERS and SUPPLICATIONS, with VEHEMENT CRIES and TEARS to Him who was able to save Him from death” (Heb.5:7a). With deep conflict between the human nature and the Will of divinity, the Heart of Jesus submitted to the latter: “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come – in the volume of the book it is written of Me – to do Your will, O God’” (Heb.10:5-7).

That’s what real prayer is all about! One would assume that Jesus’ crucifixion was the most agonizing moment of His life. Death on a Roman cross undoubtedly came with excruciating pain. But perhaps, for Jesus, what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane was suffering just as real as crucifixion. When the Passover meal was eaten, Jesus left with His disciples, except Judas, who had already gone to fetch soldiers to arrest Him, and went to Gethsemane. He needed to pray, to pour out His heart to God, and He took three of the disciples to stay close to Him (v.37). Two things marked out the time in Gethsemane: deep agony and tussling and resolution.

A time of deep agony: Jesus was “sorrowful” and “deeply distressed” (vv.37-38). In deep pain and anguish, He told the disciples: “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death” (v.38). Except on such rare occasion, the gospels don’t often describe any emotion of Jesus other than compassion. Inside Him was an all-consuming sorrow and agony, almost like death! Why the pain? First, Jesus knew that crucifixion lay just ahead; an intentional slow death, with prolonged torture and excruciating pain that could last days. Second, His suffering and death included bearing the sins of the whole world in His own body, which inferred separation from His perfect communion with the Father. This was a ‘cup’ anyone would dread drinking.

A time of tussling and resolution: Jesus’ prayer was straightforwardly honest – “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (v. 39). Though not rejecting God’s Will, there was a deep inner wrestling. When He prayed the second time He seemed to know the answer. The words are slightly different: “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from me unless I drink it, Your will be done” (v. 42). Again, He “prayed the third time, saying the same words” (v.44b). Though not trying to avoid God’s Will, He was ensuring this cup of suffering was His Will. His flesh recoiled from the prospect of dying in agony and the burden of bearing the sin of the world in His body, but the heart of His prayer was always “May Your will be done.”

All Jesus wanted was what the Father wanted for Him. He had no agenda other than the Father’s. As He rose from prayer and returned to His disciples, it was resolved. No more time for questioning. For the disciples however, it was a time of weakness and failure. They persistently let Jesus down (vv.41, 43, 45). They slept when He needed them most; with one of the greatest struggles of all human history happening only a few paces away. We are often no different – in weakness, unwillingness, selfishness, and carelessness. When deep spiritual battles are at stake, we’re often not on the alert, at our posts, playing our part. Thankfully Jesus did not give up on these disciples; He just told them to arise (v.46). He doesn’t give up on us either!

Having triumphed at Gethesemane, Jesus understands all of our lives’ trials or troubles, however great the agony, darkness or pain!