Primary Texts: Mark 14:26-52; Luke 22:39-53
Memory Verses And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but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.” 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 22:41-44
Introduction:
Jesus took the three disciples of His inner circle, Peter, James, and John, with Him into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray prior to His arrest. “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me,” (Matthew 26:38) He said to them after going a ways into the garden. It is doubtful that these men, as close as they were to Jesus, had ever seen Him this dreadfully burdened. It is even likely that the Lord’s deep anguish laced the air with heaviness. Whatever it was that these three men witnessed and felt, coupled with Jesus’ words that He would soon be leaving them, infected their own spirits with sorrow to the point that all three were overcome with sleep (Luke 22:44 is the only record of this phenomenon).
We would be led to believe that they really tried to be vigilant. They loved the Master and could openly see how troubled He was. Jesus only gently chided them for their slumber. Did they give in to weariness, or had something more profound affected them so that they were overwhelmed? We may never know for sure in this earthly life. One thing is certain: Jesus, despite bringing prayer support with Him into the garden, was now all alone.
Yet, He was not alone at all! He prayed earnestly for the Father to release Him from the dreadful mission for which He had been called and prepared, and we might think that the Father hadn’t heard His Son’s cries nor felt His torment. But according to Luke’s account, this wouldn’t be accurate, for an angel comes to minister renewing strength to the Messiah.
During His trials before the Jews, the Romans, and Herod, Jesus would show incomprehensible calmness. It was in the garden that it seems His deepest battle was fought and won: His resolve to entirely fulfill His Father’s will, to suffer for the world.
Studying the Word
Lesson Study
- What instructions did Jesus give His disciples concerning what they should do when He was arrested? Matthew 26:30-32; Mark 14:26-28
- What did Jesus prophesy about His disciples’ denial of Him? Matthew 26:33-35; Mark 14:29-31
- Describe the meaning of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, and discuss His motive for praying it. Matthew 26:36-39; Mark 14:32-36; Luke 22:39-42; John 18:1
- How did the Father answer Jesus’ prayer? Luke 22:43
- How was the depth of Jesus’ anguish in the garden demonstrated during His prayer? Luke 22:44
- Why were the three disciples with Jesus in the garden overcome by sleep? Luke 22:45
- Discuss why Judas’ kiss of betrayal was particularly heinous. Matthew 26:47-50; Mark 14:43-46; Luke 22:47-48; John 18:2-3
- What amazing thing happened when Jesus boldly presented Himself to the arresting party? John 18:4-9
- What did Jesus do when Peter reacted violently against the arresting soldiers? Matthew 26:51-56a; Mark 14:47-49; Luke 22:49-53; John 18:10-11
- (For discussion): Do you think that Simon Peter’s violent reaction to Jesus’ arrest was counterproductive to Jesus’ mission?
- By overwhelming the arresting party with spiritual power (they all fell to the ground), what was Jesus intending for His disciples to do? Matthew 26:56b; Mark 14:50-52