You may ask, why did Jesus go to Gethsemane? The simplest answer to this question is that Jesus went there to seek the fellowship and encouragement of His Father before He went to the cross. What He experienced in Gethsemane was far from simple, however, it reaches beyond the understanding of all who read about it.
The accounts are given of Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane(Matt. 26:36-46; Mark14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46). The biblical description of His demeanor are extraordinary. We read that He was “sorrowful and very heavy” and that He said, ”My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death” (Matt 26:37-38). He also was “sore amazed” (Mark 14:33). He was “in an agony,” and sweat “great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44).
Why would the Son of God, so composed and self-possessed in the upper room, suddenly yield to agitation and despair? Why would He so determinedly cling to the fellowship and support of untrustworthy disciples in this hour? Perhaps the following reasons will help shed light on the depth of Jesus’ agony.
Jesus was distressed, first, because of the prospect of physical death. If sinful humans dread death, how much more would the sinless Son of God dread it, to whom it was utterly foreign?
Perhaps some have faced death more calmly than Jesus did. The “cup” (Luke 22:42) from which Jesus recoiled contained more than death, though. It included, second, the prospect of separation from God. He could still say “Abba Father” (Mark 14:36), for He was on intimate terms with Him. Soon, however, He would bear the sins of man (cf. Isa 53:6; 11 Cor. 5:21), and the horror of the resulting separation from the Father was beyond comprehension (cf. Mark 15:34)
A third reason for Jesus’ distress was the mysterious relationship between His divine and human natures. In His deity, He knew the crucifixion was necessary, and He had focused His energies on providing redemption for man. In His humanity, however, He longed to escape this hideous ordeal. It was in His humanity that He “learned…obedience by the things which He suffered” (Heb. 5:8).
Fourth, Jesus’ agony was explained by the fact that He was locked in a battle with the powers of darkness. He had prophesied that the prince of this world would come (John 14:30). When He later was taken prisoner, He declared to His captors, “This is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53)
Jesus was aware of this struggle when he entered the garden. That was why he warned His disciples against falling into temptation. (Luke 22:40, 46). THIS WAS THE GREATEST TEMPTATION HE EVER FACED. Satan was trying to keep Him from submitting to death and fully accomplishing His Father’s will. So great was the pressure that an angel was sent to strengthen Him (vs. 43).
Jesus finally overcame temptation by submitting himself to His Father’s will and claiming His strength (cf. Mark14:36). He emerged victorious and resolute, and He never looked back. The issue had been settled, and Satan’s attack had been thwarted.
The disciples were not that successful. Leaving 8 of them at the entrance to the garden, Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John with Him and urged them to “tarry… and watch” (Mark 14:34). Soon they fell asleep. When Jesus returen, He mildly rebuked SWimon Peter and exhorted all three of them (vs 37-38). The exhortation turned out to be ineffective, for they fell asleep again. Eventually, they forsook Him in His time of need.
While the command to watch and pray was thus given to Peter, James, and John, it carries a warning for all of us. The prince of darkness is still active. Unless we claim God’s strength in prayer, we will surely fall into temptation.
Also see: SOMETHING JESUS DIDN'T KNOW, an article on this blog
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