Bible Study Materials

JESUS' PRAYER AT GETHSEMANE

by   03/25/2011  

Question


1. What was Jesus’ prediction concerning his disciples? (31) What did he promise to them? (32) How did Peter reply? (33) What did Jesus say to him? (34) How did Peter respond to it? (35) How were Jesus and all his disciples, including Peter, different here? 2. Where did Jesus go to pray? (36-38) How did Jesus express his mental state? (37-38) What did he do in this condition? (39a) What was his prayer topic? (39b) 3. What did he find his disciple doing? (40) What did he ask Peter? (41) What was his repeated prayer topic? (42,44) Do you find any progress in his prayer? How about his disciples’ condition? (43,45a) What did his prayer result in? (45b) 4. How was Jesus arrested? (46-50) What did he say to his companions? (51-54) What did he say to the crowd? (55-56)


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Message


We thank and praise God for Jesus who poured out his entire blood for us through his death on the cross. Through his blood God makes a new covenant with his people. Jesus said, “Drink from it all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” It is God’s promise that he forgives all our sins accepting the blood of Christ as the sufficient payment for the sin. The new covenant in Jesus’ blood will last as long as the sun shines, and the power of the blood of Christ will never lose its power like the sunlight. May we believe firmly in the efficacy of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and live on it each day. Blessed are those who have the covenant with God in Jesus’ blood. Today’s passage covers Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s denial, his prayer at Gethsemane, and his arrest. May we especially learn Jesus’ prayer at Gethsemane. First, Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s denial (31-35). Jesus and his disciples finished the last supper with singing a hymn, and went to the Mount of Olives. He went there to pray at Gethsemane. But before his prayer, what did he do there? Look at verse 31. “Then Jesus told them, ‘This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”’” His concern was always his disciples. He said about their falling away so as to truly help them. No master wants to tell his disciples about their falling way. If possible, a master wants to talk about their greatness and their future success. But Jesus was not just optimistic about his disciples to please them. Jesus spoke to them the truth based on the Scriptures, though it would hurt them temporarily. It was because he truly loved them and cared for them. Jesus gave them the words of God even concerning their falling away so that they might accept the word and prepare themselves. Jesus entrusted them to the words of the Scriptures. Jesus also shared his hope. He said, “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” This was his consistent hope of his resurrection because he knew God’s purpose for him. Look at verse 32. “Peter replied, ‘Even if all fall away account of you, I never will.” Peter probably thought to himself, “You do not know me. I am not such a person. I know what kind of person I am. Don’t say such a thing to me anymore.” He wholly rejected Jesus’ words without any consideration. Jesus’ words must have been petitioning and solemn. But he rejected it, speaking blatantly. He talked about his super loyalty. We cannot deny his loyalty in his saying, yet rejecting Jesus’ words instantly showed his inner pride buried beneath his loyalty in the heart. Then how does Jesus help this Peter? Look at verse 34. “’I tell you the truth,’ Jesus said,” meaning, “Truly I say.” What does he truly say to him? It is, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” Jesus was not yielding to his blind pride. Jesus had to speak the truth as a matter of spiritual survival or perishing. In his perfect insight and foreknowledge, he predicted Peter’s complete denial that he could deny his mater, not just one time but three times, in a few hours before the next day dawned. Then how did Peter respond at this heartfelt, serious words of Jesus. Look at verse 35. “But Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’” Wow! What kind of person was he? He now even declared, suppressing Jesus’ words. It was the declaration about himself, the statement of Peter, “Peter’s loyalty that knows no death!” He absolutely relied on in his loyalty. However, in truth he was really proud not knowing who he was and not knowing what would come to him even the very night. A proud person can be defined in many ways. Yet, we can say that one who rejects the words of God is a really proud person. In this part we learn that no one should rely on his human good nature or any other thing, but on God’s word. All human beings are vulnerable and unpredictable, not knowing about themselves truly and not knowing what will happen to them tomorrow. How easy it is to be dragged by our proud or feelings! We must entrust ourselves and our loved ones to the words of God that stand forever. Later on, in his mature faith Peter said, “All men are like grass…” which means so weak that it withers too soon, “…but the word of the Lord stands forever.” May God have mercy on us to be humble and wise enough to entrust ourselves and our cared ones to the lasting words of God. Second, Jesus’ prayer at Gethsemane (36-46). Look at verse 36. “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane…” In Luke it is written, “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.” Gethsemane in the Mount of Olives was Jesus’ usual prayer place. A usual prayer place can be turned into an emergency prayer place. At this place of his usual prayer he would offer his special prayer this time. He said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Look at verses 37, 38. “He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.’” Jesus never revealed this sorrowful emotion until now. How victorious it was when he said, “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee,” although he clearly knew Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial and talked about them! Now he said to his disciples that he was overwhelmed with sorrow. It was because of his impending crucifixion and death on the cross. His physical pain would be more than one could think of. Yet his mental pain and suffering would be far beyond his physical pain. He had to bear the sin of the world upon himself and receive the due punishment. Jesus said that he was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” Who in the world could fully understand his overwhelming sorrow caused by all his forthcoming sufferings? When Herod the Great gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old or under, Matthew described the sorrow of the victimized mothers with the words of Jeremiah, “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more” (Mt 2:18; Jer 31:15). It was the sorrow of the mothers who saw their children being deported to Babylon without the promise of their return. In this world such parents’ sorrow seems to be the greatest. When we try to think of Jesus’ sorrow that overwhelmed his soul, one thing was very clear that his coming death on the cross was not easy at all for him to bear, although he was the Son of God. What did Jesus do in this situation? Look at verse 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.’” After telling his disciples to stay there and keep watch with him, he went a little further and prayed, falling with his face to the ground. This is truly a divine picture of Jesus, the Son of God as well as the picture of the one who was fully human. In the situation where he was overwhelmed with sorrow, he did not just stay there and was ruled and overruled by his sorrow. No. He went a little further to make his personal space with God and prayed. Here “going a little father” refers to his physically going forward. It can also mean his spiritually going forward. When it was so hard for him to move both physically and spiritually, he went a little father to come a little nearer to God. In our lives “going a little farther” can make a difference. It is written that “at 211 degree (Fahrenheit) water is hot. At 212 it boils. And with boiling water, comes steam. And steam can power a locomotive.” We can understand this. We remember the Lord’ prayer, “Father, hollowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done…” It was the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray with. But here is the actual prayer with which Jesus himself prayed. In the gospel story Jesus prayed early in the morning and at special occasions during his earthly messianic ministry. But the contents of his prayer were not written. In the synoptic gospels we now know the contents of his prayer at Gethsemane, so concise and meaningful. First of all, he began this prayer calling God, “My Father…” Especially Matthew wrote, Jesus’ calling, “My Father,” instead of “Father.” At a situation like this calling God “Father” would be good enough. It would show his full trust in the Father. Yet, calling God “My Father,” everything became more personal to him. His pain and sorrow was personal to him. He more felt the Father’s personal love for him through this suffering. His trust in the Father became very personal. When he called, “My Father,” he put his personal full trust in him. In this personal complete trust, he could feel personal comfort from his Father near him. So he could lay any request before the Father, even his human desire not to take the cup of suffering. He said, “…if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.” Trust is a big theme of the Bible. We are living in an uncertain and distrustful world. In whom or what can we trust? Isaiah 2:22 says, “Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?” We know that we cannot trust TD Canada Trust. But we can trust in God. At the time of Jesus’ imminent departure, he said to his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me” (Jn 14:1). Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” David said in Psalm 62:8, “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him…” In Matthew’s gospel the word “trust” is written only one time. When Jesus was on the cross, religious leaders mocked him, saying, “He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him…” (Mt 27:43). Yet, this gospel of Matthew teaches us the spirit of trust time and again. Jesus wants us to trust in our Father heaven, considering how God feeds the birds of the air and clothes the lilies of the field (Mt 6:26,28,29). Even one of the trivial sparrows in the forest does not fall to the ground apart from the will of God. And even the very hairs of our heads are all numbered. He wants us to know that we are worth more than many sparrows (Mt 11:29-31). Because of his complete care and protection, we can trust in God, my Father in heaven. At the time of extreme sorrow and trouble, the Lord Jesus came to God in prayer and called him, “My Father…” In deep trust, he expressed his human desire to him, saying, “…if possible, may this cup be taken from me…” However, that was not all of his prayer. Afterward he laid down his deepest desire, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” This was his reverence to the Father. His deepest desire was to do the will of the Father. He said, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” He made it very clear that the subject of “will” was not “I” himself but “you” the Father. He wanted to yield his will to the will of the Father. He wanted to obey the Father’s will denying his own will and desire. This reveals that he is truly the Son of God. His miraculous power, matchless teaching and compassion all show that he is the Son of God. Yet, the distinctive landmark of his son-ship would be his choice to obey the will of the Father, though it meant his death on the cross for the sin of the world. And it was in accordance with what he had taught. He said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mt 16:24). He also said, “…whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Mt 12:50). Jesus himself denied his own will to obey the will of the Father. Christian life definitely includes denying one’s own will to obey the will of God. It is good to have many successes and victories in life with faith in God. Yet, there are the times when our own will conflicts with God’s will and we should deny the will of our own to obey the will of God. It is because God’s will and purpose is higher than our own. Whenever there is a conflict, we should not become discouraged or fatalistic. Rather we can examine our hearts if we truly study, work or do other things for the glory of God, and have the prayer of our Lord Jesus, “Yet not as I will, but as you will” and learn it. This prayer should be learned from the young stage of one’s faith. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” In other words, the habits formed in childhood are carried onto adulthood and to the end of one’s life. They do not go away. This is also true with our spiritual habits. “Yet not as I will, but as you will” should be our spiritual habit and practice regardless of our age of faith. In the course of praying Jesus did not forget his disciples. Even in his personal spiritual battle in prayer, he was mindful of the disciples and returned to them. He wanted to see them praying. But he found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Just before, Peter bragged about his human loyalty. He was ignorant of his weak self. So he gave in to his weak flesh, not his willing spirit. At this time he did not know how to fight a spiritual battle in prayer to overcome his body and follow his spirit. Jesus wanted him to watch and pray so that he would not fall into temptation. He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken way unless I drink it, may your will be done.” Here we see in his second prayer the progress. At the first time he had thought about the possibility of not taking the cup. But in this second time he was thinking about not being possible of not taking the cup. And now his will was gone; only God’s will was there in his heart. So he prayed, “May your will be done.” Again, this kind of prayer, “May your will be done” ought to be carved in our hearts. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They were probably snoring at this time. He let them sleep continually, not disturbing them. He left them and went away one more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Here Matthew emphasizes that Jesus prayed with the same prayer topic repeatedly. We remember in Matthew’s writing that he uses repetition to stress a certain important thing. He clearly wrote in verse 44 that Jesus prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Jesus prayed the third time until he could have strength to obey the will of the Father. What was the result of his repeated prayer with the same prayer topic? Look at 45,46. “Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” His overwhelming sorrow was completely gone. He was full of confidence to confront his enemy and meet the cross. He was victorious. Here we see clearly that prayer indeed makes a difference. When we pray, we need to put our full trust in him calling him, “My Father.” We should pray repeatedly, again and again until we can be sure of Gods’ will and obey it. We should pray unceasingly until we can overcome ourselves and any situations and be equipped with power and strength to do the will of our Father in heaven. Third, Jesus’ arrest (47-56). While Jesus was still speaking, Judas arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kill is the man; arrest him.’” What a signal! A kiss is supposed to be a lover’s signal. But now it became a betrayer’s signal to arrest Jesus. Then, going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. How did Jesus respond at this? Look at verse 50. “Jesus answered, ‘Friend, do what you came for.’” Wow! This is truly amazing. At the traitor’s kiss--the signal to arrest him--Jesus called him, “Friend.” It is truly divine. Although we cannot deny his divine nature, we believe that it was also the result of his prayer. That’s why Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount to pray for those who persecute us and our enemies. Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. In John’s gospel, this companion was Peter (Jn 18:10). At this moment, Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place.” Jesus did not cheer him up for his apparent courageous act, but stopped him doing such an act. Jesus redirected him to put back the sword in its place. Then Jesus told him the reason: “All who draw the sword will die by the sword.” This one word can be the summary of history. Afterward Jesus said that he would have enough power to defeat the enemies, but he did not use it in order to fulfill the Scriptures. He said, “But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (54) Even at the time of his arrest the fulfillment of the Scriptures was in his mind. He did not fight a human battle but a spiritual battle, being strengthened by his prayer. At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” He taught even the crowd how to view his arrest. It was for the fulfillment of the writings of the prophets. Jesus’ heart was full of God’s will through his words and ready to drink the cup of suffering and death in obedience to the will of God. On the contrary all the disciples had no word of God and deserted him and fled. Thank God for teaching us that we should entrust ourselves and our loved ones to the enduring words of God. At the time of his overwhelming sorrow Jesus prayed calling God, “My Father.” His prayer topic was, “Yet not as I will, but as you will; may your will be done.” He prayed the third time with the same prayer topic until he could obey the will of God and empowered to meet the unbearable situations. At the time of his arrest his concern was the fulfillment of the Scriptures. May God help us to especially learn Jesus’ prayer at Gethsemane. May we pray repeatedly and constantly, and grow in the relationship with him with full trust and obedience to do the will of our Father in heaven.


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