The Prayer in Gethsemane (5)

 

 

[Luke 22:39–46]

 

When did Jesus pray in Gethsemane? (The time of the prayer)
Jesus prayed in Gethsemane when He was deeply troubled and sorrowful—His heart was overwhelmed to the point of death (Matthew 26:37–38).
At that time, Jesus’ disciples also should have prayed not to fall into temptation.
The “temptation” the disciples faced was to abandon Jesus and flee, in other words, to be scattered (Matt. 26:31, 56).
Among them, Peter followed Jesus at a distance to the courtyard of the high priest (v.58) and ended up denying Jesus three times. During the third denial (v.58), Peter even cursed and swore, declaring he did not know Jesus (Mark 14:71).

Where did Jesus pray in Gethsemane? (The place of the prayer)
Jesus left eight of His disciples at the entrance of the Garden of Gethsemane and said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray” (Matthew 26:36). That was their place of prayer.
Then Jesus took with Him the remaining three disciples—Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee (James and John, Matt. 26:37; Mark 14:33)—and went further into the garden. That place became their place of prayer.
After that, Jesus went a little farther from those three, about a stone’s throw away (Luke 22:41), and prayed. That was Jesus’ own place of prayer.

Why did Jesus separate the eight and the three disciples in this way?
It was because Jesus was revealing the structure of the temple in Jerusalem.
In the temple, there were: the Court of the Israelites, the Court of the Priests, and the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies), which only the high priest could enter once a year.
In Gethsemane, Jesus left the eight disciples at the garden’s entrance (symbolizing the Court of the Israelites), took the three disciples—Peter, James, and John—further into the garden (symbolizing the Court of the Priests), and then went even farther by Himself (symbolizing the Most Holy Place), where He prayed to God the Father.

The “Most Holy Place” (Holy of Holies) is where God’s presence dwelt and contained three elements:

  1. The Ark of the Covenant, which held:

    • (a) The two tablets of the Ten Commandments written by God,

    • (b) A jar of manna given by God during the Israelites’ time in the wilderness,

    • (c) Aaron’s rod that had budded.

  2. The Mercy Seat—a gold cover for the Ark, measuring 2.5 cubits in length and 1.5 cubits in width (Exodus 25:17).

  3. Two Cherubim—positioned at the ends of the Mercy Seat with their wings covering it (Exodus 25:18–20; 37:6–9).

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place with the blood of a sacrifice and sprinkled it on and in front of the Mercy Seat to atone for the sins of Israel (Leviticus 16:14–19).

Exodus 25:22 says:
“There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.”

At the Mercy Seat (“there”), the Lord God (“I”) met with the high priest Aaron (“you”).
Thus, the Mercy Seat symbolically represented the meeting place between God and His people (Exodus 30:6; Numbers 7:89).
In other words, the place where one met God was above the Mercy Seat within the Most Holy Place.

When Jesus went into the garden, left Peter, James, and John behind, and walked a stone’s throw away, that place symbolized the Holy of Holies where God met with His people.
Jesus entered the symbolic Most Holy Place and prayed before God the Father.

Likewise, we also must draw near to God and pray.
Where is the Mercy Seat now? God is everywhere.
Therefore, we must come to God in prayer through the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 6:18 says:
“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”

How did Jesus pray in Gethsemane? (The posture of prayer)
Jesus knelt, fell face down to the ground, and prayed.

Luke 22:41 says:
“And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed.”

Mark 14:35 says:
“And going a little farther, He fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.”

Matthew 26:39 says:
“And going a little farther He fell on His face and prayed, saying…”

This posture shows the fear and reverence involved in approaching the holy God in prayer.
Though Jesus was righteous and without sin, He bore all our sins and stood before the glorious and holy God. That is why He knelt, fell to the ground, and prayed with His face to the earth.

We must deeply reflect on Jesus’ posture in the Gethsemane prayer.
What is the posture of our own prayers?
Are we praying before the glorious and holy God with reverence and humility?

Even Jesus knelt, fell face down, and prayed to God.
How much more should we follow His example?
Our souls must be bowed low in humility when we pray.
We must pray with sorrow and pain over our sins, in a posture of reverence before God.