GETHSEMANE

Passage: Matthew 26:36-46

Key verse: 39

NIV

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!”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

36 (A)Then Jesus went with them (B)to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him (C)Peter and (D)the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, (E)“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and (F)watch[a] with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face (G)and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let (H)this cup pass from me; (I)nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 (J)Watch and (K)pray that you (L)may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, (M)your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for (N)their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for (O)the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on.[b] See, (P)the hour is at hand, and (Q)the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 26:38 Or keep awake; also verses 40, 41
  2. Matthew 26:45 Or Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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