Staff Devotion Matthew 26

Intro

As Father’s Day 2026 is behind us, I am keenly aware that many are left with confusing emotions. Day’s that are meant for celebration take on new meanings in life as events unfold; Father’s Day is one of those. However, Scripture is clear on how we are called to handle emotions like this — turn them over to Christ. And, it is no surprise that Christ gives us very many ways that we can do this. One of the greatest ways that Christ taught was through example. He lived, so we strive to live after Him. Look with me at Matthew 26:39 “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Context

Let’s see the context very quickly. Here, the night of Jesus’ eventual arrest, He comes to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray with the disciples (who fall asleep time and again). But, let’s not focus on that. Focus with me on the relationship that Jesus model’s with the Father. Here we see three aspects of His relationship with the Father that we are called to model.

Respect

Before Jesus utters a word, He falls on His face? Why? Well, it is unlikely that He tripped on a vine and wound up on the ground. Rather, Jesus fell prostrate before the Father in total respect and awe of who He is and what He does. This is what we are called to do.

Do we realize with whom we are communicating when we pray? We aren’t just talking to some guy on the street! We are talking to God Almighty, the Creator of the universe, to whom we cry “holy, holy, holy.” This is the relationship we are called to have with Him, one of respect (and many other things that we will discuss). Respect has become a dirty word in American society, we don’t want to respect our authority, especially our father figures! But, once we realize that all things and relationships on earth are (sinful) copies of what resides in (sinless) heaven, then we will begin to understand.

As the kids at Harvest would say, we have to “put some respect on His name!” As goofy as that sounds, is this not what Christ modeled when He fell on His face before the great and mighty God?

Personability

Once Christ fell on His face, prostrate before God Almighty, He simply cried out. Wow! What an amazing thing we see Christ tap into, the personability of the Father. He is able, willing, and striving to be a personal God with us. Yes, we respect the Father, but we can also cry out with our deepest and most painful burdens in life. Jesus cries, “Father, if it be possible, let this [crucifixion, beating, separation from You] pass from me!”

What did Jesus do here? He cried out with deep emotions what His core desires were. Friends, it is okay when we do the same! We get caught up on the wonderful next line “nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” while skipping the fact that just prior to this, Christ asked for His desires to be fulfilled.

God wants to fill you with the desires of your heart … when they are in line with His beautiful will. The more that we pray and see answered prayers, the more that we cry out our desires and see them fulfilled, the more that we will begin to see God’s will and pray for those things to come to pass. Our relationship with God and our prayer life will be like a ten lane interstate that has merged into a one lane backroad. What once felt so far away now feels so close and accessible as your will merges with the Fathers and you take His on. Hebrews 4:16 reminds us of this truth, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Submission

Ultimately, we see Christ submit to the Father’s perfect will for His sake and our good. This is what it is all about, your relationship with the Father has to end with submission to His will. For, if you trust God, then you will trust that His will, as painful as it may be, is better than yours. This is what Jesus did!

Walk through this with me. Jesus falls down in respect, cries out his deepest desire, but knows that the Father’s will is better — so He submits. This is what we are called to model! A deep relationship with the Father through a deep prayer life where we ultimately submit to His perfect will for our lives and follow through with obedience.

Conclusion

Matthew 26:39 “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Friends, model this relationship. Fall down before a loving Father, not out of an obligatory respect, but out of a loving one. Pour out your deepest desires to Him. Submit to His will and watch your will merge with the Fathers. The Father loves you and He is very near. Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”