Prayer at Gethsemane

Jesus prayed 3 times before his betrayal. If you compare all the 4 gospels and closely observe the words he spoke each time, you will find a revelation in these passages:

Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Matt.26:38

Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Mark 14:35,36

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."Matt.26:39

The first time, he prays like this: “Everything is possible /or/ if it is possible… take this cup from me”. Here Jesus is asking his Father to take away the cup, which is crucifixion.

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."Matt.26:42

Watch the above verse very closely. His prayer has changed from, ‘if it is possible’ to ‘if it is not possible’.

So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Matt.26:44

At the third prayer, Jesus has known and accepted the will of his Father to drink the cup, which is crucifixion.

An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.Luke 22:43

After making the decision to go for the cross, he was strengthened by the angel.

Jesus, who had said few hours ago, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death”, has now become bold and commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" John 18:11

From Jesus' prayer at Gethsemane, we learn the perfect submission to the will of our Father in heaven. Submission is a voluntary decision which can be difficult to make and if the submission is according to the will of the Father, it produces fruit for eternity.

Thanks to Bro R Stanley’s message: “How NOT to...” series