Click here for more messages from the Lead Me to the Cross series.
Click here to return to the Sermons page.

Matthew 26:36-46 (Gethsemane)

INTRODUCTION: Today is the third Sunday of Lent. Our message series is called “Lead Me to the Cross,” and together we are following Jesus in his last days to the cross. Today we come to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus goes to Gethsemane where he wrestles in prayer as he prepares to go to the cross.

This is a true struggle for him. Up to this point Jesus has been firm and resolute in all his actions. He has shown himself to be the one in charge. He has been unwavering in his determination to follow the Father’s leading all the way to the cross. But something different happens at Gethsemane. At Gethsemane we see Jesus come the closest to reversing course. So far Jesus has been clearly saying in all his words and actions, “Father, lead me to the cross.” But at Gethsemane Jesus almost comes to the point of saying, “Don’t lead me to the cross.” There is a lesson here for all of us on temptation and prayer, so let us read this passage together. (Read Matthew 26:26-36 and pray.)

As we begin the message today, I want you to do something for me. Today’s message is on temptation and prayer, and I want you to think about temptation for a moment. What temptations are you dealing with in your life right now? What are you tempted, when are you tempted, how strongly are you tempted, and how good are you doing fighting temptation?

Now please don’t think that you are the only one here today who is experiencing temptation. The Bible says temptation is common to all man, and trust me, everyone experiences temptation. What we want to look at today is how do we fight back against temptation, and especially the role of prayer in fighting temptation.

It’s interesting that on the way to Gethsemane the disciples all boast how they will never desert Jesus. Alfred Plummer in his commentary on Matthew notes the following contrast: “The Apostles are so sure of their own strength that they will not allow the possibility of failure, even when they are forewarned of it by Christ. The Son of Man is so conscious of the weakness of His humanity that He prays to the Father that He may be spared the approaching trial. He feels the need of being strengthened by prayer.”

As we study these verses together, I want us to look at three things in particular. 1) Temptation can be overwhelming. 2) Prayer is key to overcoming temptation. And 3) The moment of temptation will come.

I. Temptation can be overwhelming (36-38)

So let’s begin with number one. Temptation can be overwhelming.

   A. Jesus brings his disciples with him for support (36-37)

We certainly see this with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knows that he faces a difficult time, and so he makes sure that he brings his disciples with him for support. Look at verses 36-37:

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. (Matthew 26:36-37)

Jewish law required Jesus and his disciples to stay in Jerusalem or its surrounding area on the night of the Passover, so they could not return to Bethany that night as usual. Instead Jesus led them to the Garden of Gethsemane, just on the city limits. When they got there Jesus situated most of the disciples in one area while he went further to pray. But he brought Peter, James and John with him deeper into the garden.

Peter, James and John were the inner three, the three disciples closest to Jesus and whom Jesus on several occasions separated from the rest. Jesus had taken these three with him to the Mount of Transfiguration where they witnessed his true deity as God. Now takes them with him deep into the garden where they will witness his true humanity as man.

Matthew says that Jesus began to be sorrowful and troubled. This is where Jesus’ passion officially begins. The word “sorrowful” speaks of grief and inward pain. The word “troubled” speaks of extreme distress. It is no accident that the movie “The Passion of the Christ” opens in the Garden of Gethsemane. This is where Jesus’ sufferings began, even before he came to the cross.

   B. Jesus is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death (38)

Jesus has brought his disciples with him for support, and so he reveals his inner struggle to Peter, James and John. Look at verse 38:

Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38)

The word translated “overwhelmed” is a word that speaks of deep grief and sorrow. Jesus is overwhelmed with this sorrow to the point of death. This shows the severity of Jesus’ trial. He is being pressed to the limit. It is instructive that the word Gethsemane actually means “oil press.” An oil press was a huge stone that was used to press and crush olives to produce the oil. Here at Gethsemane Jesus is crushed and overwhelmed with sorrow as he is pressed to his very limits.

Temptation can be overwhelming to any of us, but what Jesus experienced at Gethsemane goes far beyond anything you and I have ever experienced or ever will experience. Jesus’ sorrow and suffering and abandonment are all part of his passion, all part of the suffering he must undergo on our behalf. Jesus doesn’t cheat. If he is to truly suffer and die for sin, he must experience true suffering and true death. He will not coast through it as a superhuman. Rather, he will suffer through it as a true human being.

Jesus was pressed to his limits, and so Jesus knows what it is like when you are pressed to your limits. Hebrews 2:18 says: “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18)

Jesus tells the disciples: “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He shares his sorrow with the disciples that they might watch with him. Temptation can be overwhelming, and he needs their friendship. He longs for their support.

II. Prayer is key to overcoming temptation (39-44)

That brings us to our next point, which is that prayer is key to overcoming temptation.

   A. Jesus prays while the disciples sleep (39-41)

And we see this in the contrasting actions of Jesus and his disciples. Jesus prays while the disciples sleep. Look at verse 39:

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

What do you do when you are overwhelmed with grief and sorrow? Take it to the Lord in prayer. That’s what Jesus did. He went to his Father in prayer. He fell with his face to the ground, showing extreme earnestness in prayer. When you fall on your face before God, you humble yourself before him. You are desperate for an answer, and you show your complete dependence on him and him alone.

Jesus fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.” Although all things are possible for God, not all things are within his will. One of the things we learn from Gethsemane is that, although all things are possible for God, what we pray for is not always possible according to God’s will. That is a hard lesson to learn in prayer, and it is a far cry from the prosperity gospel which teaches that any suffering is not part of God’s will.

Jesus prayed, “If it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.” The cup in Scripture refers to God’s judgment and punishment poured out for sin. This is the real reason for Jesus’ extreme distress and anguish. It’s not just that he was facing death, and not even death on the cross. Other men had died, and other men had died on the cross. But it was what the cross meant for Jesus. Jesus was not only going to die, but he would die for sin, and not for his own sin, but for the sins of the world. It was not just death, but the kind of death he must face, paying the penalty for sin, suffering the wrath of God the Father for all our sins.

Jesus has been counting on his disciples to watch with him, but we read in verse 40:

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Matthew 26:40-41)

And so the disciples abandon Jesus in his greatest time of need. Jesus asked them to watch with him, and they all fell asleep. Earlier that evening they had all sworn their undying loyalty to Jesus. Peter said, “Even if all the others fall away, I never will.” (Matthew 26:33) And so Jesus addresses this rebuke to all of them but primarily to Peter. Peter had good intentions, but he couldn’t follow through.

The word temptation here can mean either temptation or trial. Either way it is the same. In our temptations we are tempted to fall into sin, and in our trials we are tempted to abandon our trust in God.

Jesus said, “The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Like Peter we often have good intentions but our follow through is weak. A willing spirit is a good start, but it is not enough. We must also pray if we are to overcome temptation.

Our bodies are weak. The Holy Spirit gives us good desires, but our bodies betray us. The good news is that one day our bodies will be raised as new powerful, glorious bodies that will correspond to the Spirit’s desires, and we will sin no longer.

In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus demonstrates victory of the spirit over the body; the disciples demonstrate the victory of the body over their spirit. Jesus prays while the disciples sleep.

   B. Jesus prays for the Father’s will to be done (39, 42)

Notice that even in his extreme sorrow, Jesus prays for the Father’s will to be done. Back in verse 39 Jesus prayed his first petition: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39) Notice Jesus doesn’t pray that he would not do the Father’s will but only asks if there is another way. This is the closest Jesus ever comes to saying, “Don’t lead me to the cross.” His prayer in the first petition is, “If there is any other way, do not lead me to the cross. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

In verse 42 we read his second petition:

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:40)

It’s interesting, Jesus’ second request is a little different from his first request. It’s very subtle, but there is a difference in the way he phrases the prayer. Jesus has moved closer to accepting God’s will in this matter. In the first prayer he prays, “If it is possible, take this cup away.” In the second prayer, he prays, “If it is not possible, may your will be done.” Jesus knows there is no way to remove the cup of God’s judgment and wrath against sin unless he drinks it himself. And so through prayer he comes to a resolution in prayer: “If there is no other way to save mankind except by my going to the cross, then may your will be done. Lead me to the cross.”

Jesus’ prayer did not change the outcome, but it did change Jesus. He found strength in prayer to accept God’s will and to move forward. This is the heart of Jesus’ prayer at Gethsemane. He submits in obedience to the Father. He clearly states his own will in the matter, but he prays for the Father’s will to be done. This is a good example for us to follow in prayer.

   C. Jesus persists in prayer (43-44)

Jesus prays while the disciples sleep. Jesus prays for the Father’s will to be done. But I also want you to see that Jesus persists in prayer. Look at verses 43-44:

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. (Matthew 26:43-44)

Jesus didn’t stop praying until he came to a place of peace in God’s will. When should you stop praying for something? Not until you have overcome. Not until you have come to the place of trusting God and his will in the matter. We give up and we give in far too easily. We need to learn to pray through to victory.

III. The moment of trial will come (45-46)

1) Temptation can be overwhelming. 2) Prayer is key to overcoming temptation. Which brings us to point number three: 3) The moment of temptation will come. Trials don’t wait until you are ready. They come unexpectedly, without warning, but they will come. Ready or not, the moment of trial will come. You can and should pray when the trial comes. But if you want to be ready, you must also pray before the trial comes.

   A. The disciples arise unprepared for temptation (45)

In verse 45 we see the disciples arise unprepared for temptation:

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” (Matthew 26:45)

The hour is near. The appointed time has come for the appointed betrayal leading Jesus to his appointed death. And the disciples are not ready. They have been sleeping when they should have been praying.

Jesus is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Who are these sinners? They are Judas, the religious leaders, the temple guards, but they are also us. We are all sinners, and it was for our sins Jesus went to the cross.

   B. Jesus rises ready to face his betrayer (46)

The disciples arise unprepared for temptation, but Jesus rises ready to face his betrayer. Look at verse 46:

“Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” (Matthew 26:46)

The temptation in the garden is over, and Jesus has emerged victorious. Strengthened by prayer and back on course, Jesus rises to face his betrayer. The moment of trial has come. Jesus is ready. Sadly, the disciples are not.

CONCLUSION: Let me close this morning with four applications.

   1) Watch and pray so you do not fall into temptation (36-41)

Number one: Watch and pray so you do not fall into temptation. You have an enemy. The devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Falling into temptation can have serious consequences for your life – for you, for your family and friends.

If you try to fight temptation in your own strength, you will fail. Frederick Bruner points out that “Peter’s three denials in the courtyard follow Peter’s three naps in the garden. If we do not say our prayers, we cannot resist our temptations – it is that basic.” The battle against temptation is won on your knees before the trial comes.

We need to watch and pray because we are all prone to spiritual sluggishness. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. We can stay awake for things when we want to or need to. If we have a sick child or we go to a late night concert or we have to drive through the night, we at least make the effort.

The disciples could stay up all night fishing but not praying. If we do not spend time in prayer getting our strength from God and seeking his will first, then we will not be ready when trials or temptation comes our way. Watch and pray so you do not fall into temptation.

   2) Seek God’s will, not your own (39, 42)

Number two: Seek God’s will, not your own. Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) When you take up your cross, you die to your own desires and choose to follow God’s will rather than your own.

Jesus grew more accepting of God’s will through prayer, and you can too. But only if you are seeking God’s will and not your own. Prayer does not always change the outcome, but prayer will always change you. Which is more important to you? It depends on whether you are praying for your will or for God’s will to be done. Asking God to lead you to the cross means you seek God’s will, not your own.

   3) Don’t give up – be persistent in prayer (43-44)

Number three: Don’t give up – be persistent in prayer. When do you stop praying? Not until you have overcome. Jesus went back and prayed three times in the garden. He didn’t stop until he came to a settled confidence in God’s will and was ready to face his betrayer. Be persistent.

   4) We are all stumbling disciples – lean on God’s grace (45-46)

And finally number four: We are all stumbling disciples – lean on God’s grace. The disciples abandoned Jesus, but Jesus did not abandon them. Jesus died for sleeping disciples like you and me who fail him repeatedly. Watch and pray so that you do not fall into temptation. But if you do sin, you have one who speaks to the Father in your defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

© Ray Fowler

You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this message provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and that you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For any web postings, please link to the sermon directly at this website.

Please include the following statement on any distributed copies:
By Ray Fowler. © Ray Fowler. Website: https://www.rayfowler.org

Click here for more messages from the Lead Me to the Cross series.
Click here to return to the Sermons page.