If You Didn't Think Jesus Was Truly Human, You Haven't Read This Passage! - Matthew 26:36-46

Gethsemane

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 along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. 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.” 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 has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

If you ever wonder if Jesus was truly human, this is the passage for you to read.  If you ever wonder if Jesus prayed to His Father, this is the passage for you to read.  If you ever thought Jesus' decision to accept his calling to go to the cross was easy, this is the passage for you to read.  

"Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane: This is just east of the temple mount area in Jerusalem, across the ravine of the Brook Kidron, and on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives. Surrounded by ancient olive trees, Gethsemane means “olive press.” There, olives from the neighborhood were crushed for their oil. So too, the Son of God would be crushed here." Guzik

It is important to know that Jesus knew that Judas would know of this location, as he had prayed there before. The word "sorrowful" in English does not do it justice here.  In the Greek, it means the greatest sorrow imaginable. (Poole) Jesus could only be this troubled and sorrowful if he knew what was going to happen to him.  If anyone thinks that Jesus did not know what was going to happen to him they haven't read this passage  

I also love the humility of Jesus when he asks the disciples to stay there while he prayed.  Then he asks them to "keep watch" which meant to be in diligent prayer.  You would think the disciples would be eager to pray for Jesus during his hour of greatest need.  After all he had done for them, one would think they could stay awake for just one hour for their master.  Jesus emphasizes the "spiritual nature" of prayer.  The Spirit is willing he says, but the body is weak.  This is good to remember when we don't feel like praying.  It is usually our flesh which influences us in this way.  When we get too busy to pray, it is usually our flesh. When we get too distracted to pray, it is usually the flesh. When we get too lazy to pray, it is usually the flesh. 

When we are led by the Spirit to pray it is quite an awesome thing.  And once we start praying our spirit and soul are rejuvenated and restored.  Satan hates it when we pray, because he knows how is power is decimated when we pray.

But the most poignant part of the passage comes when Jesus cries out to the Father saying, "My Father if it is possible may this cup be taken from me." The word "cup" is always a symbol of suffering in the bible and is used repeatedly in the Old Testament. The the cup is a powerful picture of the wrath and judgment of God. Jesus was just about to have the wrath of God poured out of him for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD! 

After praying a third time for this cup of suffering to be taken from him, Jesus realizes that his prayer had been answered.  God's will would be done by him going to the cross. Jesus comes out of his travailing prayer with his mind settled with God's will as he says, "Arise. Let's go, here comes my betrayer."  

Jesus came to a point of decision in Gethsemane. It wasn’t that He had not decided before nor had consented before, but now He had come upon a unique point of decision. He drank the cup at Calvary, but He decided once for all to drink it at Gethsemane. Jesus found victory at the cross by succeeding in the struggle in Gethsemane. Peter – just like us – failed in later temptation because he failed to watch and pray. The spiritual battle is often won or lost before the crisis comes." (Guzik)

What distracts you from praying?  What benefit does Jesus receive as a result of his heart wrenching prayer?  Do you have others in your life who will pray with and for you when you are going through a difficult time?  Who can you be praying for, who you know are going through a difficult trial in their lives?  Remember don't fall asleep!