The Garden of Grief
“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.” Matthew 26:36
Jesus and His disciples had just finished their Passover meal, Judas Iscariot had been identified as the disciple who would betray Jesus to the religious leaders, Peter had insisted that he would never be offended at Jesus, and Jesus informed Peter that before the rooster crowed, he would deny Him three times. There was apparently much tension in the air that particular night. One could probably have cut the tension with a knife or a sword as Peter demonstrated later. As always, Jesus felt the need to commune with His Father, but this night He was especially eager to talk with God and let Him know His heart concerning the mission that would occur in a few hours. Most of us do not know ahead of time when a tragedy or something will occur that will change our world, and that is a blessing. But Jesus knew exactly what He was about to face, and, naturally, as fully human, it was weighing heavily on His mind. I don’t think that Jesus even once thought about not obeying His Father in making the final sacrifice to provide salvation to sinners. Of course, there was a certain dread involved. We all have things that we must go through, and many of these things we dread.
Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him into the garden of Gethsemane. He told them to sit down while He went a little further to be alone with His Father in prayer. He confessed that His soul was in a deep state of sorrow, even to the point of death. I take this to mean that the emotional pain was so difficult that the only way of relief was death. He told the three of them to wait and watch with Him. Jesus desired for His friends to stay awake and alert. They were to be there for Him. Sometimes, in times of sorrow, we like the company of others as a support. They don’t have to do anything or say anything, but just be there. It is comforting to have friends with you in times of crisis. Jesus didn’t even tell them to pray. How would they know what to pray when they didn’t realize the gravity of the situation?
Jesus stepped a distance away and fell on His face. We have seen paintings of Jesus kneeling with His arms resting on a rock, looking up toward heaven. That might look good, but it is not accurate. There are several things that folks portray from scripture that are not accurate. For Jesus’ face to be on the ground, He would be lying prostrate on the ground or kneeling with His head to the ground in a posture of true submission and humility. He prayed, “O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” After an hour with His Father, Jesus arose from the ground and returned to Peter, James, and John and found them asleep. He said, “What, could ye not watch with Me one hour?” We know that the human side of Jesus experienced many emotions and sorrows that we go through, thus I think Jesus was likely very frustrated or at least disappointed with His right-hand men. This time He told them to “watch and pray” so that they would not be tempted to fall asleep again. He needed their prayers and support more than they needed their rest.
Jesus returned to His place of prayer two more times, and two more times, He came back to His disciples and found them asleep. That third time He told them to sleep on and get some rest because circumstances were going to change drastically. They had no idea about what was to happen very shortly. If God had revealed to them the events of the next few hours, they wouldn’t have been able to sleep for fear. Had they known, they likely would have tried to thwart God’s plan because they didn’t want to lose their best Friend. God knows to whom and when to reveal the mysteries of the gospel.
The disciples had little time to rest. What was beginning now was a chain of horrible and frightening events that would change the world forever and usher in the most significant and glorious blessing upon mankind. Jesus had warned them at supper about the one who would betray Him, and He knew that Judas was on his way leading those responsible for the capture and arrest of Jesus. Because of their lack of prayer and watchfulness, the disciples were going to be unprepared for what happens next.