Devo Matthew 26:36-46

Chapter 26
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to
them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took Peter and the two sons
of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then
he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay
here and keep watch with me.” 39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the
ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.
Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40Then he returned to his disciples and found
them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked
Peter. 41”Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is
willing, but the body is weak.” 42He went away a second time and prayed, “My
Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your
will be done.” 43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their
eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third
time, saying the same thing. 45Then he returned to the disciples and said to them,
“Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man
is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”


Here recorded three times of Jesus’ prayer. It clearly portrayed Jesus wrestling
with God’s will and then finally accepting it. It started with Jesus asking if it
is possible for the cup (referring to the expression of God’s judgment in and
by the cross) to be removed from him. The next two times He says, “If this
cannot … your will be done”(v42). In all cases, Jesus addresses God in the
most intimate terms as “my Father”(vv39,42). The disciples, including even
Peter, were unable to watch and pray with him.

Personal Note:

Jesus wrestled with God three times in prayer.  In my spiritual journey, God is asking me to do things that may not be something I want to do.  For example, God may ask me plan lessons, leadership training with fine details and thoughtfulness.  Usually, I am very spontaneous as planning and administration is a weak area.  I ask that if it is possible to remove this from me.  From the survey of the leaders in our group, administration and organization is an area we all need growth on.  Finally, if it is your desire for me to grow in this area, let your will be done.  I pray that we would not be like the disciples who were unable to watch and pray with Jesus.