JESUS' PRAYER IN THE GARDEN

MATTHEW 26:36-41 NKJ 
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." 
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." 
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 

OBSERVATION: 

Too easily, we overlook the adversity Jesus faced before the cross. His prayer time in the garden gives insight into how difficult this time was for Him.  

Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane when He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. I am amazed that He did not show any stress before that time. His last supper with the disciples gave them no indication of what He was facing.   

But in the garden, as He was ready to commune with His Father in heaven, He was pushed in His soul. The weight of what was about to happen was landing on Jesus, and it was a hard weight to bear. He was in agony. Luke, in his gospel, speaks of sweat like great drops of blood. And says that an angel appeared to Him to give Him strength. (Luke 22:43-44) 

Jesus was God, yet He laid aside His divine power and became a man. The pressure involved with taking on the sins of the world was immense.   

His prayer was a prayer of consecration. He was praying and submitting His will to the will of God. This is where we get, not as I will, but as You will.   

One very important thing to note: the prayer of consecration is an important prayer that we can all pray. In all areas of our lives, we want the will of God, not our own will.   

But we do not pray every prayer with 'not as I will but as You will.' This was one type of prayer. When we pray for wisdom or help or healing or strength, we don't add 'if it be your will.' Jesus said when we pray those prayers, we believe we receive answers. 

When we worship and praise God, we don't pray 'if it be Your will.' When we pray the prayer of casting our cares and worries on God, we do not end with 'if it be Your will.' In the garden, Jesus gave us a model for one type of prayer. So we pray that prayer when asking about God's will and plan for our lives.   

APPLICATION: 

Before I met Joy, she was in a serious relationship with a young man who was a believer. Because they had talked of marriage Joy went to the Father in prayer. Lord, I will marry him if it is Your will. She did not know God's plan, so she submitted her will to God's will. Thankfully His plan was no to that man and yes to me. YEA! I win. But I am thankful to God for Joy praying the prayer that Jesus prayed in the garden. If it be Your will. Your will be done.   

PRAYER: 

Dear Father, I desire for Your will to be done in my life. So in my future and in the plans You have for me not my will but Your will be done!