36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going 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.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men 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 flesh is weak.”
42 He 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.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
The Cup
Jesus, the cup of your suffering was immense. I will never have to face anything in my future like you had to face into. You were sorrowful and troubled. How do you calm storms and heal sickness and become troubled. However, in the light of such immense pressure, you were faithful to the plan. You stuck it out to the end. The courage here is immense. Help me to have such courage. I feel that I am week, but the Spirit carried you in that time.The same Spirit walks with me, transforms me, emboldens me. May I speak the truth and walk in truth without timidity and fear. May I fix my eyes on you and walk with perseverance the way marked out before me. May I prove faithful even if I have to walk in the valley of the shadow of death. Please do not allow my children to be harmed. I want to be their protector, but I am inadequate to the task. I pray that you would protect them. However, if you were to lead me down that, the worst of paths, then give me the grace to survive. Whatever you want, do your work in me.
Questions
- What was Jesus’ cup?
- What is your cup?
- Will you drink it?
- Are you thankful that Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath?
- What would be your condition if he had not? How does his anguish relate to your fate?
Plymothian 