Chapter 1: Not My Will

One week earlier he had ridden into Jerusalem to the sound of thousands calling his name. He had spent the week teaching in the Temple, eating with his disciples, and saying things they would only understand later. On Thursday evening he had broken bread with them, told them one would betray him, warned another he would deny him three times before morning, and then led them in a hymn at the close of the Passover meal.

Now it was Thursday night. The hymn had barely faded. And somewhere in the city, a man with thirty pieces of silver was already moving.

Jesus led his disciples out of Jerusalem, across the Kidron Valley, and into a garden called Gethsemane on the slope of the Mount of Olives.

He left eight of the disciples and took Peter, James and John deeper into the garden. Then he said something that stopped all three of them.

JESUS“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”— Matthew 26:38

He walked a little further on alone, fell with his face to the ground, and prayed.

JESUS“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me. Yet not my will, but yours be done.”— Luke 22:42

The cup was a biblical image for suffering and judgment. He was not asking to avoid difficulty. He was asking, with full knowledge of what was coming, whether there was another way. There was not. And he rose from that ground and walked toward it anyway.

Luke records that an angel appeared from heaven and strengthened him. God did not remove the cup. But he did not leave his son alone in that garden either. Strengthened, Jesus pressed deeper into the prayer. Luke records that in that anguish his sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood. (Luke 22:43-44)

He returned to find Peter, James and John asleep. He woke Peter.

JESUS“Could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”— Matthew 26:40-41

Matthew records that Jesus went back and prayed a second time, then a third, each time returning to find the disciples sleeping. Three times he brought the same request before God. When he rose from the ground the third time, the prayer was finished.

He woke the disciples.

JESUS“Rise, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”— Matthew 26:46

He had been on the ground asking if there was another way. Now he was on his feet walking toward what was coming.