Matthew 26:36-46

JESUS AGONIZES IN THE GARDEN

Matthew 26:36-46

After they  had eaten (The Last Supper) Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane. (Luk_22:39; Joh_18:2) Gethsemane means olive press, it was in the Kidron valley and most likely an olive tree orchard.

Mat 26:36  Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and He said, "Sit here while I go over there to pray."

Jesus asked eight of the disciples to sit here and wait until he was done with his prayer. Note that there are eight here and in the next two verses there are three, Judas had already left to betray Jesus.

Mat 26:37  He took Peter and Zebedee's two sons, James and John, and He became anguished and distressed. Mat 26:38  He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me."

Jesus knew he was to be crucified and brought his closest friend to be near him. They most likely were there to warn him when Judas came with the mob. Jesus was filled with distress and was asking the father to lift this burden but either way it was to be his will not Jesus

Mat 26:39  He went on a little farther and bowed with His face to the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine."

From the Life Application New Testament commentary: 26:39 "Jesus went still farther into the garden to be alone with God. He threw himself on the ground before God in deep spiritual anguish, praying that this cup of suffering might be taken away. In the Old Testament, “cup” stood for the trial of suffering and the wrath of God (Isa_51:17). So Jesus referred to the suffering that he must endure as the “cup” he would be required to drink. This was a bitter cup. The physical suffering would be horrible enough (Heb_5:7-9), but God’s Son also had to accept the cup of spiritual suffering—bearing our sin and being separated from God (Mat_27:46  About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,^[a] lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Yet Jesus humbly submitted to the Father’s will. He went ahead with the mission for which he had come. Jesus expressed his true feelings as a human being, but he was not denying or rebelling against God’s will. He reaffirmed his desire to do what God wanted by saying, “Yet I want your will, not mine.” God did not take away the “cup,” for the cup was his will. Yet he did take away Jesus’ extreme fear and agitation. Jesus moved serenely through the next several hours, knowing that he was doing his Father’s will."

26:40  Then He returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Couldn't you watch with Me even one hour? Mat 26:41  Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!"

This was a teaching moment. Jesus was warning them that if they were not watchful and awake that Satan would overcome them with temptation.

Mat 26:42  Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, "My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, Your will be done." Mat 26:43  When He returned to them again, He found them sleeping, for they couldn't keep their eyes open. Mat 26:44  So He went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. Mat 26:45  Then He came to the disciples and said, "Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Mat 26:46  Up, let's be going. Look, My betrayer is here!"

The disciples feel asleep again Jesus must have been disappointed. If hew was he did not say anything this time because Judas and his mob had arrived. The disciples took up their swords and clubs to fight but that will be tomorrow.

Agape
Dave