Soli Deo Gloria

Gethsemane

"Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22: 39-42 (NIV)

This intense gospel drama brings us into the final hours of a Jesus’ life. Jesus is preparing to be arrested, tortured, crucified. The tender upper room last supper has been eaten. Judas is actively betraying his friend, Jesus Christ. Jesus gathers his faithful eleven disciples/friends to keep him company as he prays "Not my will." He is in spiritual agony, physical distress and personal temptation. His beloved and trusted companions fail him and cannot stay awake. Jesus needed community in his last hours. The disciples have watched and listened to him teach, preach and heal the sick for three years. They’ve begged him to teach them to pray. They’ve argued over who is the greatest. They now slumber.

From time to time Jesus wakes them with the admonition, "Pray that you may not come into the time of trial/temptation…….Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done." The text tells us he prayed in anguish. His sweat became like great drops of blood. The only disciple who will hear Christ pray again before he dies is John the beloved disciple. He is the one who hears his dear friend pray from the cross only hours later, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." "Into thy hands I commend my spirit." "It is finished." Only John loved enough to bravely stand with the women at the cross.

We see the reality and humanness of Jesus the man (Luke 22: 36 - 46). Jesus needed companions to be with him in his hour of crisis. He needed friends to be with him in prayer. Stay awake and pray for times of trial. The spirit is willing. The flesh is weak. Please take this cup, if it is possible, otherwise, Father, your will be done. Christ prayed again and again praying for strength and courage with great drops of bloody sweat streaming down his face as he prepared for the hour of his death.

In Mark’s gospel (14:36) we read a parallel account. "He said, "Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want."

The Greek reads, "Abba ho Pater." We could read this as "Daddy, dear Father."

The early church picked up on this revolutionary concept of having a trusting relationship with a beloved heavenly Parent. We find the tender name of "Abba" two more times in the Pauline writings from Romans 8:15 and Galations 4:6. Jesus gives us permission to pray "Abba" as beloved sons and daughters of God. God promised in 2 Samuel 7:14 "I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters." This is for seekers of all sexual orientations. We are not called to change our sexual orientation, only invited to accept our belovedness as children of God.

All of us will experience Gethsemanes in our lifetime. They are moments of great spiritual distress, fear and anguish. We may be experiencing hatred and betrayal. We may be called to pick up our cross and we don’t want to do it. We want to be spared the cost of discipleship. In our deepest pains, grief’s and troubles we can call, "Abba, oh Father." We have a loving, tender heavenly Parent who cares deeply for us.

Even Christ needed prayer companions in Gethsemane. Sleeping friends were better than being alone. If Christ needed companions, we would be wise to ask for friends to be with us in our Gethsemanes. Don’t be upset when they let us down. Judas betrayed, the others slumbered, Peter denied their relationship and they all ran away in fear. We see a picture of life drama and human frailties.

Take this cup. What is our cup in life we are called to drink? Sorrow? Suffering? Persecution? Costly discipleship? Sacrificing personal ambition? Greed? Comfort? Give it to God.

Not my will. All of us will need to surrender to God’s will. Some of us kick, scream, gnash our teeth. Christ in anguish sweat great drops of blood.

Thy will be done. If we pray this, our lives will be changed. We will be transformed.

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