Matthew 26:36–46 describes the poignant moment of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. This passage highlights Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane as a moment of deep spiritual insight.
Even Jesus wrestled in prayer before He submitted to the will of God. You can too, just as Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane demonstrated through His earnest prayers.
Matthew 26:36–46 (NASB 2020)
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” 39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? 41 Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, Your will be done.” 43 Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let’s go; behold, the one who is betraying Me is near!”
Who Was Involved?
- Jesus, in prayerful agony and complete submission
- Peter, James, and John, invited into deeper intimacy, but overcome by sleep
- The Father, whose will Jesus submitted to
- Us today, learning to surrender through prayer, even in sorrow
What Happened?
- Jesus entered Gethsemane to pray before His arrest. It was during Jesus’s time in the Garden of Gethsemane that He expressed deep sorrow.
- He took His closest disciples with Him for support
- He expressed sorrow and distress, even to the point of death
- He prayed three times, wrestling with the Father’s will
- The disciples fell asleep repeatedly
- Jesus rebuked them gently and surrendered fully to God’s plan
The Mood: Intense, Isolated, Sacred
- Jesus was in emotional anguish and spiritual warfare
- The disciples were physically exhausted and unaware
- The moment was sacred and weighty, with heaven and hell watching
The Principle: Surrender is the Pathway to Power
- Jesus shows that even He had to wrestle before yielding
- Prayer is not about getting our way, but getting God’s strength to walk His way
- Absolute surrender often happens alone and in anguish
Audience Response (Then)
- The disciples didn’t understand the magnitude of the moment
- They slept when they were supposed to watch
- Jesus still loved them and included them in His journey
What This Means for Us in 2025
- We all face Gethsemane moments—where the pressure is unbearable
- In those moments, we must choose to pray, not run
- God is not offended by our struggle—He’s honored by our surrender
Action Steps for Today
- Bring your sorrow to God. Don’t carry it alone
- Invite others to pray with you. Even if they fall short
- Stay awake spiritually. Don’t sleep through sacred moments
- Pray through the pain. Even if it’s the same prayer three times
- Surrender to God’s will. Power comes through yielded hearts
Final Prayer
Father, in my moments of sorrow and uncertainty, help me to surrender as Jesus did. Give me the strength to say, “Your will be done.” Let me not sleep through divine moments, but rise in faith and courage. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Your Gethsemane may feel like agony, but it’s also the place where Heaven prepares you for victory, just like it did for Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
