Gethsemane

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane. Matthew 26:36 NLT

“Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Matthew 26:36-38 NLT (read through and briefly elaborate.)

Jesus’ heart was heavy with the weight of the entire world, with all its sin and separation: past, present, and future. (While the divine Jesus was determined the human Jesus was hurting!)

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15 NLT

For everyone who’s ever felt a desperation beyond description; understand this, Jesus understands!

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying. Matthew 26:39 NLT

And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:44 NLT

2 Corinthians 5:21 - He became sin who knew no sin so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God!

“My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Matthew 26:39 NLT

Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Matthew 26:39 NLT

An incredible load of guilt met the undefeated love of our surrendered Savior, in Gethsemane.

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. Matthew 26:42-43 NLT

So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!” Matthew 26:44-46 NLT

All those who journey soon or late, Must pass within the garden's gate ; Must kneel alone in darkness there, And battle with some fierce despair. God pity those who cannot say : “Not mine, but thine;” who only pray, “Let this cup pass;” and cannot see The purpose in Gethsemane. Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Jesus did not come into the world to make bad men good. He came into the world to make dead men live! - Leonard Ravenhill

We have to die to our will before we can live His!

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 KJV

The power of the resurrection is released in the lives of the ones who give themselves to God in Gethsemane.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be, If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.
Charles Studd