39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
Verses 39 through 45 show the interplay between Jesus going before the Father in prayer and keeping the three disciples alert to the enemy.
26:39
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father,
The dominant name Jesus used of God in prayer was “Father.” Using the name Father was unusual to Israel; it was a term of too much intimacy for them. Adding to the idea of intimacy is the word “My.”
if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me;
The “cup” here refers to the cross, God’s method of payment for sin. Jesus asked the Father if another way to pay for sin, other than going to the cross, was possible.
Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Jesus volitionally surrendered to the Father’s will about going to the cross.
26:40
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?
The time was the middle of the night. Jesus reprimanded Peter for not staying alert to watch for enemies. He was about to come to His last hours on earth, yet His disciples did not watch with or pray for Him. Their sleeping at the point of Jesus’ greatest grief added to His sorrow.
26:41
Watch and pray [Greek—keep watching and praying], lest you enter into temptation.
The disciples were to keep watch for enemies and to keep praying that God would not allow betrayal in trial. Jesus did not humiliate the disciples here but warned them of impending danger.
The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Jesus knew that the disciples were devoted to Him, but He also knew how untrustworthy their hearts were.
26:42
Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
Jesus went to pray a second time. This time He accepted the will of God about going to the cross—“Your will be done.”
26:43
And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
After His admonishing the three disciples for lack of diligence, they fell asleep the second time. This time He did not awaken them.
26:44
So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
Jesus went to pray for the third time.
26:45
Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Returning for the third time, Jesus woke the disciples and announced that His betrayal would occur shortly.
26:46
Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
Jesus made no effort to escape from His betrayer; He submitted Himself to the will of God. God answered His prayer that it was His will that Jesus go to the cross. He would become the sin offering to pay penalty for our sins.
PRINCIPLE:
Spiritual diligence keeps us from spiritual lethargy.
APPLICATION:
Sleep is often a way of escape from our problems. Instead of facing our problems, we run from them.
Lu 22: 45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.
It is amazing how we can be indifferent in times of crisis. When we neglect prayer, we reject our dependence on God. Even Jesus needed to depend on God in prayer in time of duress. Sorrow is no excuse for lack of diligence. God always provides strength in sorrow and suffering.
All of us face special times of temptations or trials. These times threaten to consume us. The only person that we can ultimately turn to in these times is God Himself. Friends and family may help, but turning to God is the only ultimate answer.
He 5: 7 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, and was heard because of His godly fear,
Prayer in the final analysis is yielding our will to the Father’s will. Jesus was a wonderful example of that.
Jesus was in conflict while in the garden.He wanted His disciples to watch because they were to be eye witnesses to His death. His disciples were eye and ear witnesses to all He said and done from the beginning of their calling. Jesus wanted them to continue being witnesses. Luke 1:1-4, 1John1:1-4, 2Peter1:16 ,
Jesus did not ask that the cup of His death be removed i.e. the cross for an alternative means of death, but that if it was possible to by pass death altogether! The cross being the instrument of His death was predetermined. Galatians 3:13. Jesus wanted His disciples to pray with or for Him about his conflict, which would have kept them awake to witness.
The disciples sorrow began in John 16:19-22 due Jesus telling them that He would leave them for a little while, but they didn’t have the full jest of what He was saying.
Jesus spirit (not His disciples) was willing but His flesh was weak. His humanity was unwilling to align itself with His divine purpose.
Finally, what is “betrayed at trial”? Jesus was wrongfully convicted by two false witnesses, which the Sanhedrin deemed blasphemy. Matthew 26:60-65. No one betrayed Him at trial.
Delano, I did not mean that Jesus would be betrayed in the formal trial of Jesus, but in the trial of His general suffering approaching the cross.
Agreed