Drawing Near? (Matthew 26:36-46)

Sometimes we know that a major event is ahead of us, but we don’t experience the importance until we come very close to it. Everyone who sits an exam should have prepared for it, but even the best student has some apprehension when the time of the exam draws near. While the event is not a surprise, the realisation of what depends on it brings extra pressures. That kind of experience is a poor illustration of what Jesus went through in Gethsemane.

Unusual aspects

As we consider the incident, we will see some surprising aspects. One of them is that Jesus allowed others to see him in his distress. We know that the disciples fell asleep during their time in the garden, but if they had remained awake they would have seen all his actions and heard all his cries. The fact that Jesus allowed himself to be seen at that time is a challenge to how we react in situations which threaten us and look as if they might overpower us. Often, we put on an external appearance that is the opposite of what we feel. In a sense, we are telling a lie when we do that.

A second detail that may surprise is that the Creator wanted creaturely participation in his experience. He asked the disciples to watch and pray. While he did not ask them to pray for him, he did ask them to pray within the same area and at the same time. Sadly, the human participants did not participate. Nevertheless, we know from another gospel that another kind of creature – an angel – comforted Jesus when he was in distress. We are not told what the angel said or did in order to bring this about. Matthew, under God’s guidance, tells us what the human disciples failed to do.

This leads us to consider the notion of failing. Jesus, as we know, was in the process of living a perfect life, one that would be imputed to the account of his people. Everything that he did in the last week of his earthly journey is part of that perfect life. This means that his response in the garden to whatever caused him the distress was the correct response. We can see from the example of Jesus that there are circumstances when it is the appropriate response to be very distressed. 

The Unseen God

In the next few hours, Jesus is going to be in the presence of very important people. He will meet with the Sanhedrin, with Herod, with Pilate. Meeting with them did not make him afraid, even although they would not be on his side. Moreover, he is going to find himself in the control of hostile forces – the soldiers who came to arrest him, the soldiers who would mistreat him when they mocked him as a king – but he was not afraid of them.

Unusually, the One who was the reason for the apprehension of Jesus was the One who was for him, who had always been for him, who wanted him to be successful in the mission that he had agreed to undertake before the worlds were made. The One who was the cause of the concern of Jesus was the One whom he felt free to speak to in the Garden, the One he addressed as Father, the One who had promised him a great reward when he completed the task assigned to him. 

Perhaps it was the knowledge that Jesus possessed that made the imminent appearance at Calvary so fearful. After all, the only Ones who know the full power of God are the members of the Trinity. We can watch political leaders discussing what to do with weapons of destruction and we can attempt to visualise the amount of power that they have. We know that it would be terrible if that power was ever used against people. Yet that power is nothing compared to the power of God.

Who knows the full power of God? It was not revealed when he made the universe. All that was required was for him to speak and it all appeared. The angels sang as they watched the various divine actions when each stage of creation was performed, but those angels never saw the fullness of God’s power. Nor is the full power of God revealed in his everyday providence whereby he governs all things. But it would be revealed at the Cross and it would be revealed against the Son who knew the fullness of divine Power. It is what this God and Father is going to that causes such distress for Jesus. He knew that he was going to be punished by God for the sins of others.

The unwanted cup

It has been observed by many that very strong words are used to describe how Jesus felt in the garden. Matthew says that Jesus ‘began to be sorrowful and troubled’ and quotes that the Saviour stated, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.’ This distress was due to what was included in the cup that he had to drink. What were the ingredients that made him so distraught?

At a basic level, there would be the fact of death itself, and the kind of painful death he would die by crucifixion. He also knew that it would be a shameful death and that he would hear the taunts of cruel people. In addition, he knew that the powers of darkness would assault him with their vile weapons. Those matters were some of the ingredients, but they were not the one that made him so concerned. The main ingredient was that he would be the sinbearer and that he had to pay the penalty for the sins of his people. He would become a curse and endure the wrath of God. All this came upon him as he entered the garden and it increased for a while during the time he was there.

Although he had never sinned he was traumatised by what he realised was coming towards him. If we saw a tsunami coming towards us we would be afraid because we would know that there would be no escape.

The unique prayers

Of Jesus, it surely can be said that ‘never man prayed like this man’. Since the fall of Adam Jesus was the only person who always prayed perfect prayers. His prayers were different from ours because he never confessed his sin. They were more devout than ours because he was always in the right spiritual frame of mind. He was more diligent in his prayers and engaged in prayer when and as he should. We must remember those details as we observe him praying in the garden.

In the garden, the prayer of Jesus was more than his words. One of the psalmists said on one occasion, ‘I am prayer.’ By that description, I assume he meant that all his energy and all his thoughts were involved in his prayer life. He had reached what David exhorts to do when he says in Psalm 103 that all that is within should bless the name of God. David called for that kind of response to the goodness of God in the life of his people. But how would one pray when the response is to the judgement of God? After all, those facing the judgement of God don’t usually engage in prayer.

We find what such prayer is like by watching Jesus in the garden. Matthew mentions two separate details in the prayer of Jesus. First, he asks his Father if the cup can pass from him. Yet he indicates his submission if it is not possible for his request to be allowed. Surely, here we see the humility of Jesus. Second, he seems to indicate that he has received a negative answer to his first petition because when he prays for the second time he indicates his agreement with the Father’s will. So, in Gethsemane, he dedicates himself to the cross where he will drink the cup.

The unworthy disciples

We are told that Jesus took his disciples frequently to the garden. It was true that participants in the Passover had to spend the Friday evening (or Thursday evening by our reckoning) in Jerusalem. Maybe the suggestion is true that Jesus went to the garden because they were too poor to pay for lodgings, although one could assume that the owner of the upper room would have let them stay there for the night. 

Whatever the reasons for previous visits to the garden, on this night they were to be spectators of an event that was unique in their experience. On previous occasions, when Jesus had prayed, they asked him to teach them to pray. I doubt if they wanted to learn to pray how Jesus prayed on this awful evening. No other person could pray like this.

Why did Jesus take the disciples to the garden on this occasion? He wanted their company. Why did he tell the privileged three what was going through his heart? Because he wanted their sympathy. Why did he ask Peter about his failure to watch? Because he knew his fragility and wanted to strengthen him. Why did he not waken them when he returned to them the second time? Because he wanted them to rest. Why did he waken them after his third time of praying? Because he knew he had to advance against the traitor and his armed men.

What did the disciples see in the garden? They saw a distraught Saviour who feared the cup, they saw a devoted Saviour who valued prayer, and they saw a determined Saviour who marched to meet the foe. He informed them that he knew that his hour had come.

Some applications

The Saviour was given in the garden a deeper appreciation of what would happen to him on the cross. He would be punished in the place of sinners. What did he think of those sinners? Despite the terror that he felt, his love for them did not decrease. What amazing love he had for his people? ‘Gethsemane, can I forget…?’

As we look at the distress of Jesus in the garden and remind ourselves of the cause – our sins, we can ask ourselves what we think of our sins. Should we not abhor the ones we have committed, and should we not flee from the ones we are tempted to commit?