Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go and pray over there.” When he took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, he began to feel sad and anxious. Then he said to them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying. Stay here and keep alert with me.” Then he went a short distance farther and fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. However—not what I want but what you want.”
He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay alert one hour with me? Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation. The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.” A second time he went away and prayed, “My Father, if it’s not possible that this cup be taken away unless I drink it, then let it be what you want.”
Again he came and found them sleeping. Their eyes were heavy with sleep. But he left them and again went and prayed the same words for the third time. Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Will you sleep and rest all night? Look, the time has come for the Human One to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up. Let’s go. Look, here comes my betrayer.”
Matthew 26: 38-46 CEB
After the Passover meal concluded, Jesus led his disciples to Gethsemane in the Kidron Valley. It would have been late in dark evening hours as the navigated through the city.
Jesus knew that soon Judas would join them, with the religious leaders behind him. In the face of his impending death, Jesus felt sad and anxious. He was overcome with grief.
Next to the olive trees in the garden of Gethsemane, is the Church of All Nations. Inside the lights are darkened, the dots on the blue ceiling look like stars, and the mural at the front of the church depicts Jesus’ time in the garden.
It reminds us of Jesus’ final evening on earth. Praying alone in the dark, as the disciples have fallen asleep and his betrayer is on the way.
In the garden Jesus prays,
My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me.
While, Jesus knows what he must do to wipe away our sins and reconcile us with God, he was human. As John 1:14 says, “and The Word became flesh..”
Jesus was human, he was flesh and blood. He walked with legs like us. He saw with eyes like us. He spoke with a mouth like us. He felt emotions that we feel.
This is how we would feel in Jesus shoes. Father take away this suffering. Knowing the pain, humiliation, torture, and betrayal that lies ahead, we would ask God if he could take it away.
Countless times in the past I have prayed a version of the first part of Jesus’ prayer in the garden. God, please take away this pain. Does it have to be this way? Does it need to be now? Can you rid this from my life?
I think that in some point in our life, we have all prayed a prayer like this. Out of suffering, begging God to change the situation, make better the circumstances.
But Jesus ends this prayer with total commitment and sacrifice,
However – not what I want but what you want.
This passage reminds me of the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer. I am no longer my own, but yours. Total sacrifice.
I don’t pray this way enough. I’m sure many of us do not. But Jesus did. Pushing through his anguish, he cried out to the Lord, “not what I want but what you want.” Let your will be done.
I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you,
Praised for you or criticized for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service.
And now, O wonderful and holy God,
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,
you are mine, and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it also be made in heaven. Amen.
Abbey Jo
Adventures with Abbey Jo 