THE GARDEN

MATTHEW 26:36-46, MARK 14:32-42, LUKE 22:39-71

After the supper had been finished, Jesus took his disciples and went to a garden called Gethsemane to pray.   He asked his disciples to wait while he took three of his disciples with him further into the garden.  The three that went on with him were Peter, James, and John.  I find it interesting that these were the same three disciples who were with Jesus  on the mountain and witnessed the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13)….a time of joy and wonder so much that the three disciples wanted to stay on the mountain.  Jesus told them to keep the experience to themselves until “the Son of Man be risen from the dead”.  Now they were the three disciples who were asked to go with him deeper into the garden—a place quite the opposite of joy and wonder—a place of deep agony. 

Jesus told the three of his soul’s sorrow and to “tarry here, and watch with me.”  Jesus had no distrust of his father, nor a conflict or struggle within himself, I don’t think.  I believe He knew what was ahead and the human pain it would cause.  He was looking death in the face.

“And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39

I find it interesting here that he calls this agony that lies ahead of him a cup.  To me, it would be a river or an ocean that would be totally scary.  I was thinking, though, that the difference in a river, an ocean, and a cup is that you can’t see the bottom of a river or ocean but you can see the bottom of a cup.  I know to Jesus, he saw the “rest of the story”, if you will.  Maybe I, too, should be encouraged in times of trouble that it is only a “cup” and I can see the bottom.

After praying this prayer, he returned to his three disciples and found them asleep.  Asleep!  He asked them if they could not watch with him one hour.    “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:  the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Matthew 26:41

So he went back for the second time to pray.  “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”  Matthew 26:42.  Willingly.  The gospel of Luke tells that an angel appeared unto him from heaven, strengthening him.  And that being in such agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Jesus came and found the disciples asleep.  Again.  Sound asleep.

So he went back for the third time and prayed the same words.  When he came back to his disciples, he told them to sleep on and take their rest for the hour was at hand that He would be betrayed. 

To me, there’s a lot of sadness in this part of the Easter story.   Sadness that Jesus had done so much and showed so much love to his disciples and they couldn’t even stay awake to comfort him and be there for him.  Sadness that Jesus, feeling the pain in his soul would have to be in such agony.   It does show me that anything I experience in my life, He’s already experienced and been there.  The sins of the whole world were weighing on his shoulders.

There have been a few times in my life that my soul has been so sorrowful and fearful that I have REALLY prayed with my face to the ground.  Sadly, I don’t pray that earnestly as much as I should.  I try to go with a prayer on my heart daily and talk to the Lord as I do my daily “stuff” but as for praying in agony, it’s not a regular thing for me.  I know that I want to strive to be closer to my Heavenly Father in prayer and be assured by faith that the “rest of the story” will be in accordance to my heavenly Father’s will.   I need to be more willing to do my Father’s will.  Willing.

One of our choir’s Easter songs this year is one of my favorites.  I’ll bet you think I have a lot of favorites and you would be right.  The song is titled “He Was Willing” and speaks volumes to me.  It goes like this:

It must have been lonely that day in the garden

When Jesus knelt a stone’s throw away.

Bent low beneath the burden, he prayed to his father

Be thy will, let this cup pass away.

An angel came to strengthen the Savior

As earnestly he prayed there that day

And sweat like drops of blood fell on the ground before him

Deeply grieved, he knelt there to pray.

He was driven by compassion for the lost and the dying.

No other way our sins could atone.

He knew the time was nearing when he would be taken

He would bear the sting of death all alone.

The cross was just ahead on Mt. Calvary

In agony his life he would give

But he could see beyond to that resurrection morning

He would die so that others might live.

He was willing to suffer such agony

He was willing his life he would give

For he could see beyond to that resurrection morning

He would die so that others might live…..might live…

He would die so that others might live…..might live.

Willing to suffer for me.  Willing to suffer for you.   Willing.