Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And 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 again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

(Matthew 26: 36-46, ESV)

Devotional

Gethsemane is the name we have for the garden on the Mount of Olives where Jesus prayed to his Father in heaven before his arrest and crucifixion. It is derived from the Hebrew, gat-shemanim, meaning “Olive Press”. In many ways this is fitting because it is the place where Jesus was crushed by the pressure of the weight of the world’s sins, which he would bear on the cross. In Luke’s account of Jesus’ experience, it tells us that he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat became like drops of blood. There is in fact a rare medical condition called Hematidrosis where extreme emotional distress, such as fear or anxiety, or intense physical exertion cause the capillaries surrounding the sweat glands to constrict and then dilate to the point of rupture. Blood enters the sweat glands causing droplets of blood to appear, most commonly on the forehead and face.

Jesus knew he was quite literally about to carry the weight of the worlds sin upon his shoulders. He also knew that when he took the worlds sin upon himself, he would for the first time experience alienation from the Father. On the cross Jesus quotes Psalm 22 saying, “Father, Father, why have you forsaken me.” He was not forsaken, because the Father raised the Son, by the power of the Spirit, but he could no longer feel the Father’s presence, and he felt forsaken. In the garden, he anticipates this dreadful reality and pleads with the Father, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me…”

This is when the Father says “No” to the Son. The only way for our sins to be atoned for, was for Jesus to take our sin upon himself. There was no other who could or would live a life without sin and so be able to offer their sinlessness for our sinfulness. Just as death came to all from Adam, life was made available to all through Christ (Romans 5:19). It is a difficult passage, because we know the Father loves the Son, and his heart must have been in turmoil to see the Son’s turmoil… and yet, because they (Father and Son) with the Spirit wanted the many (us) to be brought into the covenant family of God, they endured the agony of Gethsemane and the Cross for us. The perfect submission of the Son, says to the Father, “Not as I will, but as you will.” That submission meant the redemption of all who would come to the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever.

Prayer

Gracious God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thank you for the depth of your love, the wonder of your grace, and the greatness of your mercy. Help us to remember that there is purpose in everything you do, and don’t do. May we, like the Son, be willing to say, “Not my will, but thine be done.” We do not see all things, but we know that the end will be good, because of Christ. Help us to trust in you and in that truth. Amen.

Rev. Andrew Dickinson ‘Prayer in Gethsemane’ Lent Devotional 2026