Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson
9. Christ’s Prayer in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-38)
MATTHEW 26:36-38
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and pray.” 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me.” (Matthew 17:1, John 12:27, Hebrews 5:7)
Christ had a full and clear understanding of all the sufferings that were before Him. The sin of the whole world would be put upon Him. The requirements of redemption made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. All sin for all time was placed upon Christ. Yet, it did not weaken Christ’s love or interrupt his work of redemption. He suffered our punishment, died our death, and carried our judgment.
In Gethsemane the struggle started when the devil whispered to his heart. Jesus, as the Bearer of all the sin of the world, would be rejected and cursed by God. His soul abhorred the thought of separation from His Father. Being completely abandoned by His Father caused Jesus to tremble, for being separated from communion with God means destruction and hell. The evil one tried to block His way to the cross with the frightening thoughts of death and tried to find power over him. Jesus entered the depths of darkness and became exceedingly sorrowful, even to point of death. He was not only sorrowful for His own death but for our deaths too. He was standing before the one who had the power of death, that is, the devil (Hebrews 2:14).
Christ certainly knew the disciples were tired. But He wants here to teach us the benefit of the communion of saints. It is good to seek and to have the assistance of our brethren when we are in an agony, for “two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9). What He said to them, He says to all, “Watch” (Mark 13:37). Not only watch for Him in expectation of His future coming, but watch with Him in application to our present work.
Who recognizes the depth and greatness of Jesus’ suffering? His soul tired for us, for He was going to be separated from the union of the Holy Trinity in order to bring us into the family of God. Who then is thankful for His suffering in this sacrifice? How do you repent of your sins to abide in God?
PRAYER: Our beloved Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your painful sorrow, and praise You for the suffering of Your soul. You have taken away our sins and guilt, and borne our judgment and the wrath as a substitute for us. Cleanse us from our sin, and sanctify us by Your Holy blood, for we are, at best, idle servants. We are unable to continue in our struggle against the spirits of our age. We ask You, Living Triumphant Lord, to always lead us in Your fellowship.
QUESTION:
- Why did Jesus become exceedingly sorrowful?