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MATTHEW - Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand!
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Matthew
PART 5 - Christ's Suffering and Death (Matthew 26:1-27:66)

10. Jesus’ Struggle in His Prayer (Matthew 26:39)


MATTHEW 26:39
39 He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
(John 6:38, 18:11, Hebrews 5:8)

Christ’s falling on his face before God does not mean that He lost His divinity during His suffering, but that our redemption required him to humble Himself. The words He said in His prayer clarify to us the deepness of His struggle for the sake of our salvation.

Jesus began His prayer with this wonderful call, “O My Father,” for He desired to cling to His Father though He was separated from Him because of our sins. He did not doubt His Sonship to God and the Father’s love toward Him. Our greatest comfort when we are in agony is to remember that our great God is our Father. When we address God, we should call Him our Father, though his wrath is manifested and flaming against every sin. However we are entitled to do this because Christ drank the cup of God’s wrath as our substitute. In his prayer in Gethsemane, Jesus foresaw the cup filled with wrath that was prepared for Him to drink.

In His human nature, Christ wished that this bitter cup would pass from Him, and that God’s plan of salvation, if possible, be carried out without Him being crucified. Yet, the Son anchored His own will upon His Father’s will in all things. In this struggle of faith, it appeared that Christ was a real man, just as He was true God. Jesus’ will was that of a human but always conformed to the will of His Father.

Christ became deeply sorrowful and disturbed with regard to His human nature, and preferred not to die. Moreover, His divinity would not bear His Father’s abandonment. Yet, in spite of His severe sufferings and approaching death, He did not want anything contradictory to the Father’s will in fulfilling our redemption. He overcame His human nature by His obedience to His Father.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, We love You and adore You because You bore the fears of death in our place. You suffered in Your soul for the separation of the Father from You because of our punishment. Yet You chose Your Father’s will instead of saving Yourself. You bore our griefs for the sake of our salvation, and drank the cup of wrath instead of us. Help us to love You always and keep Your commandments with Your help. Thank Your for your passion and great love.

QUESTION:

  1. Why did Jesus tremble and become exceedingly sorrowful, even to death?

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