…He said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.”
Matthew 26:36–45
Following the Last Supper, Jesus took his disciples to Gethsemane, on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives, just east of the temple mount area in Jerusalem. Surrounded by ancient olive trees, Gethsemane literally translates to “olive press,” for it was there that olives from the neighborhood were crushed for their oil. Jesus chose Gethsemane because Judas knew of the place. It offered seclusion, but not to the point of secrecy; during his final hours of freedom, Christ would neither give himself up nor hide like a coward.
When they arrived at Gethsemane, Jesus told his followers to sit and wait while he prayed. Through his prayers we see an initially anguished Jesus, distressed at the pain and horror that lay ahead on the Cross. Ultimately, though, his words reveal a readiness to bear the load of his sufferings, for he was willing to submit for our redemption and salvation.
Gethsemane was a pivotal decision-making time for Jesus, and each of us has analogous moments in our own lives. When we encounter difficult situations (though few that could compare with an impending crucifixion) we doubt ourselves, and our ability to face the events or crises that lay ahead. We can follow Christ’s example, by facing our trials head-on, rather than hiding from our problems, or succumbing to them. Most importantly, though, it is prayer that enables us to bear our crosses and burdens in life. As Jesus demonstrated, it is through prayer that we both find the strength to embrace God’s will, and to accept the suffering that sometimes accompanies it.
Tricia and Chris Hurlbutt
