THE LORD'S SUPPER, Dr. Samuel Lee
GETHSEMANE
Passage: Matthew 26:36~46  
Key verse: 39
Gethsemane(A)
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee(B) along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow(C) to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”(D)
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup(E) be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”(F)
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me(G) for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.(H) The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”(I)
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour(J) has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Cross references
- Matthew 26:36 : 26:36-46pp — Mk 14:32-42; Lk 22:40-46
- Matthew 26:37 : S Mt 4:21
- Matthew 26:38 : S Jn 12:27
- Matthew 26:38 : ver 40, 41
- Matthew 26:39 : S Mt 20:22
- Matthew 26:39 : ver 42; Ps 40:6-8; Isa 50:5; Mt 6:10; Jn 4:34; 5:30; 6:38
- Matthew 26:40 : ver 38
- Matthew 26:41 : Mt 6:13
- Matthew 26:42 : S ver 39
- Matthew 26:45 : S ver 18
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Source:  BibleGateway
1. Not my will, but yours be done (36-42)
Jesus was young and full of life. He did not want to die. Yet the Scripture said that he had been sent to die for the sins of the world (Isa 53; 1Pe 2:24). He struggled alone in prayer to defeat the temptations of the flesh--the temptation to find an easier way. He called God 'Father', for he never doubted God's love. Notice the progression in his prayer (37-38,39,42,44) as he struggled to submit to the will of God. (Compare Heb 5:7-9.)
2. Sleeping disciples (43-46)
Jesus took his three closest disciples to the place of prayer. He shared with them his burden of sorrow and asked them to watch and pray. He needed their prayer support, and they needed to pray, for 'the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.' They could not overcome their bodies, so they slept. Later, they would give in to fear and run.
Prayer: Lord, help me to pray instead of sleep. Help me to know your will, and give me strength to do it.
One Word: Not as I will, but as you will