I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world [that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan] is coming, and he has nothing in Me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here. (John 14:29-31)
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26) Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. (Luke 22:39) When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. (John 18:1) In the previous studies, we learned that Jesus and His disciples had their last Passover supper and communion together. (see THE GOSPEL: The Passover Meal, Before The Sacrifice; THE GOSPEL: The Lord's Supper, Flesh and Blood)
And during that time in the upper room, Jesus explained to them and us very clearly what was going to happen to Him in just a few hours; how they, the disciples and us who profess to be believers would have to make many difficult choices, even denying Him or not; how we would have many difficulties in life, but how through the empowerment of God's Holy Spirit, we would forever be united to Him and The Father and sanctified through The Word of Truth. (see THE GOSPEL: The Most Reassuring Promise; THE GOSPEL: Promise Fulfilled, Manifestation of the Holy Spirit; THE GOSPEL: Jesus Prays for Himself, the Disciples, and All Believers )
After all of that, what a beautiful picture of Christ and the disciples singing a hymn, before leaving the upper room and going to the Mount of Olives. Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And He took Peter, James, and John [* the two sons of Zebedee] with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” (Mark 14:32-34; *Matthew 26:36-38) When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:40)
Remember, only eleven disciples are with Him now, because Judas Iscariot left to betray Him. (see THE GOSPEL: Plan Put in Motion; Choose the Better Plan) Now of the eleven, the three closest to Jesus from the beginning of His ministry, and who also witnessed His transfiguration (see THE GOSPEL: This is What "Transfiguration" Looks Like), they are asked by Jesus to go with Him in a more secluded area of the garden to watch while He prays.
And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:41-42; Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:3-36) Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:43-44)
Don't let anyone fool us that because Jesus was the Son of God, so He didn't feel like we feel! With all the pain and agony many of us may have experienced, it's doubtful that any of us could have ever felt what He felt, to the point that we sweated like great drops of blood; 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, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. (Hebrews 5:7-8)
Then He came and found them sleeping [*from sorrow], and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:37-38; Matthew 26:40-41; *Luke 22:45-46) This should serve as an encouragement to us. If the "main" three disciples couldn't overcome their weakness, we shouldn't beat ourselves up when we fail.
They had not received the Holy Spirit yet because Jesus was still with them in the flesh. The same is true for us. Without God's Holy Spirit in us, we can not overcome our weaknesses either. Just as Jesus told Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’" (John 3:5-7; see THE GOSPEL: Born Again! How)
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.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. (Matthew 26:42-43; Mark 14:39-40) ...and they did not know what to answer Him. (Mark 14:40) They fell asleep again!
But more importantly, Jesus prays again, asking God to basically come up with a different plan, one that wouldn't require Him to have to suffer all He knew He was going to suffer, ending with Him shedding His blood and dying for our sins; For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (II Corinthians 5:21) The lesson to us is, Yet you do not have because you do not ask. (James 4:2) But no matter how much we ask, whatever God's answer is, we have to accept- God's will be done!
So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 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. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” (Matthew 26:44-46; Mark 14:41-42) Just as Jesus had taught previously about the faithful and unfaithful servants, Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’..., the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,(Matthew 24:46, 48-50; see THE GOSPEL: Last Bible Study - Watch and Do)
We have to stay alert and prepared, even when we are at rest, because we don't know when Christ is coming back, nor when the enemy will try to attack. Christ was never caught off guard, never unprepared, and never without an answer to His accusers; and if we have God's Holy Spirit in us, the same will be true for us. And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas,... (Mark 14:43; Matthew 26:47; Luke 22:47)
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