Matthew 26

 Matthew 26:30-46   The small group leaves the upper room and moves toward the Mount of Olives.  On the way, Jesus tells His disciples once again that He will be leaving them... that they would be scattered, but they would see Him again after He is raised.  We see in the book of John that there is much more that Jesus talked to His disciples about on that walk.. chapters 14-17 to be exact.  But here, Matthew only mentions the conversation with Peter, who, along with the others promised to "never fall away" and never "deny Him".

But, only a short time later, while Jesus is praying.. in obvious agony and grief.. Peter, and the others, cannot even keep their eyes open for an hour.  Jesus gently chastises them.. "So, you men could not keep watch with Me one hour?"  Oh the frailty of this human flesh... 

The substance of Jesus' prayer is at once precious and heart-rending.. it is honest and humble.. "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt." (v39) 

The second time, Matthew records, Jesus prays.. "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Thy will be done." 

Mark records it this way, "Abba! Father! All things are possible for Thee; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what Thou wilt."  

And Luke wrote, "Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done."  

Interestingly, John, who was present in that garden, does not record this at all.. but tells of the arrival of Judas with the Roman troops, and when Peter uses a sword to cut off the ear of Malchus, Jesus says, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"

I'm drawn by the progression of these words.. 

"if it is possible"

"if it cannot pass"

"All things are possible...if Thou art willing.. "

"... the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"

Of course, the most important lesson that we gain from Jesus' prayer is the lesson of submission to the Father's will.. Jesus leads us always by example...  How often we must learn this lesson!  The Father's will is always the greatest good.. for it accomplishes His perfect and holy and amazing purposes. 

Jesus was strengthened for the brutal and horrid punishment that would break His body and shed His blood.. as He fully yielded to the Father's will.  The "cup" would not pass.. unless Jesus drank it.. If He did not take it.. we would all have to..  Jeremiah wrote this, "For thus the Lord, the God of Israel, says to me, 'Take this cup of the wine of wrath from My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it.'"  And Psalm 75:8 says, "For a cup is in the hand of the Lord, and the wine foams; It is well mixed, and He pours our of this; Surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs." 

Our Father, Great and Holy God, Creator of all, and Lord of all.. we exalt You!  This cup of wrath.. that we rightly deserve has been given to the Lord Jesus, who yielded Himself to take if for us. Oh, Hallelujah!  What a Savior!  Father, how can we do anything but praise You?  Thank You for this amazing grace.. that comes from the greatness of Your love. "... a mighty love that has no beginning and can have no end.." ( Tozer).   You have made us objects of Your delight.. How marvelous it this love to me.. May my love grow deeper and stronger and give You even more pleasure. Teach me.. teach us.. to submit and surrender to Your good and perfect will.. always! We ask in Jesus' Name.. Amen