In the Garden With Our Lord (Luke 22:39-46)

Maundy Thursday Meditation

Thursday, March 28, 2002

After the Passover meal was over, they sang a hymn together and went out, following Jesus to the Mount of Olives, to a garden area called Gethsemane. Gethsemane means "olive press." John tells us it was a grove of olive trees on the side of the Mount of Olives.

22:39. Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives.

This was something that Jesus often did. As they left, the disciples probably sensed where they going. They probably knew that Jesus planned to go there to pray. They knew that He often retired from the crowds to pray, often to the wilderness, often at night.

22:40. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."

Jesus was probably referring to things that had been said only a short time ago- warnings of betrayal and denial. But this is instructive for us as well, isn't it? In the hours before His greatest trial, Jesus prayed.

To be like Jesus, we will also pray in our testings, temptations, trials. And just in case we may feel that we certainly wouldn't be like Peter- we would never deny Christ- let us a remember that a case could be made that every time we do not speak in His defense, or every time we say something or act in a way that is less than honoring to His name, perhaps we have already denied His power and authority to rule in our lives.

22:41. He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed . . .

And then Jesus went on a little further on His own. Matthew and Mark tell us that He took Peter, James, and John with Him a little further than the others. He told them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death . . . Stay here and keep watch" (Mark 14:34). "I'm really hurting guys. Stay here, pray, and be prepared."

22:42. "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

His agony is so great that an angel comes to minister to Him. And with the heavenly strength He receives, He prays all the more earnestly, until blood mingles with His perspiration dropping to the ground. "This suggests a dangerous condition known as hematidrosis, the effusion of blood in one's perspiration. It can be caused by extreme anguish or physical strain. Subcutaneous capillaries dilate and burst, mingling blood with sweat" (MacArthur).

22:45, 46. ⁴⁵When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶"Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

We don't know how long it was that He prayed, but it must have been some time. Our Lord takes a break from the excruciating pleading with His Father. He finds His closest followers asleep. And He exhorts them again to pray so they will not fall into temptation.

Transition

We can learn a lot from these verses, can't we, as we reflect on these unforgettable happenings the night before Jesus laid down His life for us. Charles Spurgeon gives us five features of Christ's prayer in the Garden which can also instruct our prayer lives.

1. It was lonely prayer.

2. Christ was in the habit of praying alone. It is good to pray with family, with friends, in church, at school, at home. These are precious times of prayer and should never be given up. But it is the prayer poured out alone before God that truly connect us to the Source of strength and ministers to our deepest needs. As Spurgeon poetically says, "The best beaten spice will smoke in your censer in your private devotions, where no ear hears but God."

3. It was humble prayer.

4. Jesus knelt in prayer. Matthew and Mark tell us He fell to the ground on His face. It was the most humble posture, displaying the spirit of His heart.

   If our Lord had dents in His knees and dust on His face, how much more should we! If He humbled Himself in His hour of greatest need in body and spirit, how much should I!

   The prayer that touches the heart of God is not the one that exalts self in His presence. It is the one that humbles self and exalts the Almighty.

5. It was filial prayer. (befitting a son or daughter)

6. The Almighty, yes. But also the Father. Mark 14:36 records that Jesus cried, Abba, Father, as He lay prostrate on the ground.

   Yes, we pray to the Almighty. But also to our Father in the most personal and tender sense of the term. With Christ, we are in a place of love, safe and secure. We can pour out our deepest concerns to our Father.

7. It was persevering prayer.

8. The other Gospels record that three times Jesus returned to His closest disciples, exhorting them to pray. Jesus persevered in prayer that night. He continued in prayer. He prayed earnestly and repeatedly.

   Lord, may you give us the grace to not give up, to continue in prayer until our souls are satisfied in your presence.

9. It was prayer of submission. (Spurgeon- "resignation")

22:42. ⁴² "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

Jesus, the Son of God, resigned Himself to His Father's will. He submitted His will to the will of His Father. He knew that His Father's will was better than His will.

Let's leave our prayer, our persistent earnest heart-felt yearning with God, the intimate pouring out of our hearts- let's leave that with God. Let's surrender to His will. Not my will; but Thine be done, Father.

Yes, Father, lead us not into temptation! You've promised not to give us more than we can bear! We cast ourselves on our faces at your feet. We humble ourselves before you. May we never deny your name. May be have the strength to stand firm under your Lordship in all our trials. May your will be done, not our own!

**************

And while our Lord Jesus was still exhorting His disciples one last time to pray that they would not fall into temptation, a crowd approached. The one called Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, approached Him and kissed Him.

"Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" (22:31)

There is a short flurry of sword waving. Peter slices off the high priest's servant's ear.

"No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him (22:51).

Shortly, they led Jesus away. The disciples scattered. But Peter followed at a distance.

Lord, lead us to Calvary. May we see the cross that we might know the power of the sacrifice you made for us. May we enter not into temptation. Not our will, but yours be done, our Lord and our God.

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