The Prayer in Gethsemane (8)

[Luke 22:39-46]

The zeal in Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane is as follows:

(1) Jesus prayed to God the Father with all His heart, all His soul, all His will, and all His strength (Mark 12:30). Obeying the first part of the double commandment, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your will, and with all your strength” (verse 30), Jesus’ disciples, following His example, also fervently pray to God with all their heart, soul, will, and strength.

(2) Jesus poured out all His essence (pure fluid) in prayer to God the Father (Luke 22:44). He prayed fervently, shedding pure and clean (essence-like) tears, sweat, and blood as He sought God the Father. However, when we plead to God the Father, the tears and sweat we shed are not pure and clean fluids; in other words, our tears and sweat are mixed with sin.

(3) Jesus prayed to God the Father as if squeezing oil from olives with a press (Luke 22:39). On the Mount of Olives, there were many olive trees producing abundant fruit, from which oil was extracted using presses. Jesus poured out all His essence (pure and clean tears, sweat, and blood) while fervently pleading to God. But our prayers seem to be only like faint sighs that barely stir the heart.

The patience in Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane:

Jesus did not plead only once to God the Father (Luke 22:45-46), but twice (Matthew 26:42; Mark 14:39), three times (Matthew 26:44; Mark 14:41), patiently praying until He received an answer from God the Father (although He could have prayed more than three times, He stopped after receiving an answer on the third prayer). In this way, Jesus prayed the same words three times (Matthew 26:44; Mark 14:39), pouring out the same essence (pure and clean tears, sweat, and blood) as He pleaded to God the Father. We too should imitate Jesus’ patience in Gethsemane, praying with perseverance until we receive an answer, but praying only until God’s will is fulfilled.

The result of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane:

(1) The result of the first prayer was that, having received an answer, Jesus boldly went out toward the wicked crowd that came to arrest Him, along with His eleven disciples.

Matthew 26:46 says: “Rise, let us go; behold, he who betrays me is at hand.” After praying the same words for the third time, Jesus told His disciples, “Rise, let us go,” because the one who would betray Him had come near (Mark 14:42). At that moment, Judas Iscariot came with a great crowd sent by the chief priests and elders of the people, armed with swords and clubs (Matthew 26:47). Since Jesus had received an answer to His prayer, He courageously approached this great wicked crowd to accept “this cup of suffering,” according to the will of God the Father (verse 39, Contemporary Bible).

(2) The result of the second prayer was that the Lord’s amazing power (authority) was revealed.

When Jesus asked the crowd, “Who are you looking for?” they answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” At that moment, Jesus said, “I am he” [“I am the one” (Contemporary Bible)], and at Jesus’ words, they drew back and fell to the ground [“They were amazed at Jesus’ words ‘I am the one,’ and stepped back, then fell to the ground” (Contemporary Bible)] (John 18:4-6). Jesus prayed only that the will of God the Father would be done, and yet the power (authority) of the Lord was shown as that wicked crowd all drew back and fell to the ground. When we pray according to God’s will, God accomplishes marvelous works beyond what we have prayed for. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

1 Kings 18:46 says, “Then the power of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.” The prophet Elijah prayed on Mount Carmel for God to send rain to end the drought, and God did not just send heavy rain (v. 45), but the power of the LORD came upon Elijah, enabling him to run from Mount Carmel to Jezreel (about 27 km) ahead of King Ahab’s chariot (v. 46, Contemporary Bible). Also see 1 Kings 3:13: “Moreover, I will give you riches and honor, such as no other king who was before you has had, nor any after you will have.” King Solomon asked God only for wisdom to govern (v. 11), and because that pleased the Lord (v. 10), God gave Solomon wealth and honor that he did not ask for (v. 13). Thus, God is the one who gives us abundantly more than we ask or think when we pray according to His will, just as Jesus taught. Ephesians 3:20 (Contemporary Bible) says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

(3) The result of the third prayer was that God fulfilled the covenant.

John 18:8 says, “Jesus answered, ‘I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.’” After Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, when the wicked crowd came to arrest Him, Jesus told them to let His eleven disciples go (“If you are looking for me, let these men go” [Contemporary Bible]) (v. 8). That wicked crowd came not only to arrest Jesus but also His disciples (wouldn’t arresting the disciples help to find evidence against Jesus?). But Jesus instructed them to arrest only Him and let His eleven disciples go. He said this to fulfill the word, “Not one of those you gave me has been lost” (v. 9). This fulfilled what Jesus said earlier before going to Gethsemane in John 17:12: “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction, so that Scripture would be fulfilled.” Thus, the faithful Lord faithfully fulfills His promised covenant. When Jesus said in John 19:30, “It is finished,” He was fulfilling God’s word from over 4,000 years ago in Genesis 3:15: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

We must become people of prayer who put into practice the lessons God has taught us through Jesus’ zeal, patience, and the results of His prayer in Gethsemane. Therefore, we pray that all of us may be used as instruments of the Lord to fulfill the will of God the Father on earth as it is done in heaven (Matthew 6:10, Contemporary Bible).