Lenten Devotional: The Garden of Gethsemane
Rev. Jacob Lim is a trophy of God’s grace currently serving at Paya Lebar Methodist Church. Having personally gone through the Christian Intensive Religious Counselling Programme (CIRCP) while in prison, he now serves as an Associate Chaplain on the Chaplaincy & Pastoral Council with PFS.
Christian often gives more emphasis on Easter Sunday, displaying the resurrection power of God. Yet it is in the Garden of Gethsemane, that the victory was won.
Let’s take our time as we enter the Garden together with Jesus, read through Matthew 26:36-56.
The Garden of Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called [a]Gethsemane (olive-press), and He told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee [James and John], He began to be grieved and greatly distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of sorrow. Stay here and stay awake and keep watch with Me.”
39 And after going a little farther, He fell face down and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible [that is, consistent with Your will], let this cup [b]pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not stay awake and keep watch with Me for one hour? 41 Keep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the [c]body is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words once more. 45 Then He returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Listen, [d]the hour [of My sacrifice] is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners [whose way and nature is to oppose God]. 46 Get up, let us go. Look, My betrayer is near!”
Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest
47 As Jesus was still speaking, Judas [Iscariot], one of the twelve [disciples], came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, [who came as representatives] from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” 49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Greetings (rejoice), Rabbi!” And he [e]kissed Him [in a deliberate act of betrayal]. 50 Jesus said to Judas, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then they came and seized Jesus and arrested Him.
51 And [f]one of those who were with Jesus reached out and drew his sword, and struck [Malchus] the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place; for all those who habitually draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more than twelve [g]legions of angels? 54 How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?”
55 At that moment Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Day after day I used to sit in the porches and courts of the temple teaching, and you did not arrest Me. 56 But all this has taken place so that the Scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.
- Matthew 26:36-56, AMP.
Kneeling in the presence of God, He prayed: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…” With the same words, he prayed three times in anguish. One simple request, “let this cup pass from me.” What is this cup of anguish? The bible was silent.
Was he anguishing over the physical pain of crucifixion? Or was it the spiritual pain of taking on the sins of the world? Or was it the emotional pain of being alone and being betrayed? It could be one, it could be all. But whichever it was, in anguish He prayed.
One simple request. Can God the Father take it away?
Theologically, yes, God can. God is all powerful, there is nothing that God cannot do.
The red sea can be parted. A virgin can bear a child. For there is nothing that God cannot do.
But what about the salvation for the world? We don’t need to speculate.
Despite the anguish, Jesus prayed, “May your will be done.”
A conscious decision. A denial of self to take up the cross.
It is not resigning to fate. It’s not that Jesus cannot reject the cup; rather, he will not relinquish the cup.
As he taught the disciples to pray, he modelled that very prayer. “Let your will be done on earth and as it is in heaven.”
Despite being betrayed by a kiss from a friend, he chose to take the cup. Despite being abandoned by his disciples, he chose to take the cup. Despite the lonely path He walked to Golgotha, he chose to take the cup.
"Let your will be done on earth and as it is in heaven,” as He breathed His very last.
In the Garden, He remained faithful. In the Garden, He repaid his betrayer with love. In the Garden, He denied himself, and that was the beginning of a victory won.
A victory over self, over friends, and over foes. That is Jesus’ garden.
What about your garden? In your garden, what are you anguishing over?
Will you deny yourself for God’s will? Is your anguish your very cross to bear?