0179. 176. Christ’s Prayer in Gethsemane

176. Christ’s Prayer in Gethsemane

The prayer of Christ was the greatest that was ever uttered.

1. It was a lonely prayer. He withdrew Himself from the disciples in the garden—Luk_22:41; and we are told He “went forward,” and again “He went away”—Mar_14:35, Mar_14:39. His very action of withdrawing is suggestive of the fact there are some places to which He alone could go.

2. It was a humble prayer. “He fell on the ground and prayed” (Mar_14:35). The posture of His body indicated the attitude of His spirit. Matthew tells us He fell on His face—Mat_27:39, and Luke says that He “kneeled down”—Mat_22:41.

3. It was a filial prayer—Mar_14:36. He said, “Abba, Father.” The intimacy of His relation to the Father is at once suggested. His heart of obedience beats in unison with the heart of the Father’s love.

4. It was an earnest prayer—Luk_22:42; Heb_5:7. The pressure upon Him caused the blood to ooze from His body, but instead of discouraging Him, “He prayed the more earnestly,” yea, with “strong crying and tears.”

5. It was a persevering prayer, for He not only went away and prayed the same words, but He did it three times—Mar_14:39. Is there not a suggested association with Christ’s own teaching about prayer in the words, “Ask, seek, knock” (Mat_7:7), and there certainly is a suggested connection with Paul when he asked thrice for the thorn to be removed—2Co_12:8.

6. It was a resigned prayer. At first Christ asked for the cup to be removed, but puts in the proviso, “Nevertheless not what I will, but what Thou wilt” (Mar_14:36). Matthew gives an added touch in Christ’s second praying when Christ says, “O My Father, if this cup may not pass away except I drink it, Thy will be done” (Mat_26:42). In the first prayer we see the two wills, “My will” and “Thy will,” but in the second prayer the Father’s will alone is mentioned; but afterwards He evidently got beyond this, and said, “The cup which My Father giveth Me, shall I not drink it?” (Joh_18:11).

7. It was an answered prayer—Luk_22:43.

“The Father heard, and angels there

Sustained the Son of God in prayer,

In sad Gethsemane;

He drank the dreadful cup of pain,

Then rose to life and joy again.

“When storms of sorrow round us sweep,

And scenes of anguish make us weep,

To sad Gethsemane

We’ll look, and see the Saviour there,

And humbly bow, like Him, in prayer.”

By: DR. F. E. MARSH