Transformative Prayer

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And he came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. 44 After leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? See, the time is near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”

Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Mt 26:36–46.

The prayer in Gethsemane is a familiar story we often hear during the Easter season. It is a powerful image of Jesus being tempted that we don’t see throughout scripture other than during his 40-day trial in the wilderness. Just as Jesus entered ministry only after being tempted, so he would also complete his salvific work on the cross only after going through a final temptation to choose between selfish comfort or complete obedience to the Father. To quote Charles Surgeon who summarizes the magnitude of this moment in Christ’s life:

“Then came that desperate struggle in which the great Captain of our salvation wrestled even to a bloody sweat and prevailed.” Indeed, Jesus’ triumph in this moment lead to the certainty of his death and the certainty of eternal salvation to all who call on the name of Jesus. Hallelujah!

We can see the prayer in Gethsemane is crucial to revealing the heart of Jesus and his passion to do the Father’s will to rescue us from condemnation, but this moment also serves as a complex, teachable moment about how to pray. It is complex because on the one hand we can see that Jesus is directing this lesson at Peter, the only named apostle in these 10 verses. On the other hand, we see that Jesus is also subject to (dare I say) learning a new way of obedience. Let’s dive into the scriptures and wrestle with what God wants to teach us.

Set the scene: Verse 36-37: Jesus goes and prays, something not unusual. Jesus is known for waking early in the morning while it is still dark to spend time with God. That was a hallmark of Jesus, but this time there was something different. Jesus was “sorrowful” and “troubled”. While these sound like two interchangeable words to express the same feelings Jesus felt, they actually express different, though complimentary adjectives. To be sorrowful is to be filled with deep sadness and being troubled is to become subject to extreme mental and spiritual anguish to the point of losing composure. We clearly see the loss of composure when Jesus says in verse 38 “I am deeply grieved to the point of death.” In what I can only perceive as an act of seeking comfort Jesus goes on to say, “Remain here and stay awake with me.” This posture sets the scene for how Jesus is going to approach God. Verse 39 shows an agitated, discomposed Jesus falling facedown and praying “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me.” Jesus, the Son of God, is giving a very human, very real prayer. There is no formality. Jesus does not sit down peaceably, take a few calming breathes and ask permission to come before God. Jesus prostrated himself with unrestrained cries holding nothing back. But Jesus knew he could do this, because he knew his father and was in relationship with him.

Our first observation of what transformative prayer looks like is:

1. Children can cry in front of their father.

I know not everyone has this type of relationship with their father or parents. Some of us here or at home can only be so vulnerable with our Father, but there are dark corner of life we dare not share with our fathers lest we be overcome with shame or much worse, disownment. In this moment Jesus is not filled with shame about wanting death to pass over him. He is not embarrassed or fearful of experiencing his human emotions. In fact, he is so secure in the love and faithfulness of his Father that he includes in his prayer “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus has confidence that his Father has a better plan than what he would “will” for himself. Are you embarrassed or ashamed of thoughts and emotions or of things you’ve said or done that you feel you cannot possibly come to God for help? If you want to take the first step to transformation, remind yourself that you are a child of God and you can cry before him.

In verse 40 we see that while Jesus is pouring out his troubles before the father, his friends have given in to sleep. A disappointed Jesus asked Peter “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour?” and then he gives what I believe is the central teaching found in this passage in verse 41 “Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Just several verses earlier in the upper room, Jesus predicts that all his disciples would fall away to which Peter famously retorts “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” I think Jesus wanted Peter to come with him to Gethsemane not just to have his companionship, but also give Peter the opportunity to “make good” on his claim to not abandon him. This was an opportunity for transformation in Peter, but also in Jesus.

“Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation.” On one hand we see we are learning how to overcome temptation. We need to stay awake to the things that are attacking us, enticing us, corrupting us. But staying awake is not enough. We need to pray fervently to be strengthened to resist because “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Staying awake and praying allows the holy spirit to align our desires with his so that we can do the will of the Father.

On the other hand, we see this is exactly what Jesus was wrestling with. The opportunity for Jesus to say “I’ve changed my mind. Why should I die and save these people who can’t even stay awake with me for an hour?” Jesus was just as susceptible to the weaknesses of the flesh, to the enticement to live a comfortable safe life, yet his relationship with the Father and complete trust in Him allowed Jesus not to escape suffering, but to endure it for God’s glory. What Jesus endured; the guiltless, unsullied Son of God, was bearing the full guilt of humanity. Jesus’ will aligned with the Father. Maybe you know your will is not aligned with the Father. Maybe you’ve already confessed your struggles to God, yet like Peter you choose to “fall asleep” instead of wrestle through the night and pray for deliverance.

This leads to our next observation of transformative prayer:

2. The Father is present in our weakest moments.

Jesus was about to be subjected to something completely foreign and unworthy of his Holy nature, yet with tears pouring from his eyes and perspiration that resembled blood, we see a change in Jesus’ prayer. Verse 42 says “Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Can you see the contrast? Two things pop out to me that are astonishing to me. When Jesus first prays he asks “if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” When Jesus prays a second time there is a sense of acceptance to what must take place “if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Both the possibility of escape and the mention of his will are removed. It is no longer “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Now it is simply “Your will be done.” Let that sink in. Jesus’s will is now completely aligned with the Father. There is no going back. Jesus completely trusted his Father. If you trust the father and are wrestling with the same struggles in your life and the same temptations that abuse and feels like nothing is changing, keep praying. God would rather you come to him multiple times than non at all. Our third observation of transformative prayer is:

3. Children cannot exhaust God’s love.

The remaining verses summarizes that the disciples proved Jesus correct in their inability to stay awake in the night. Jesus was betrayed and the Holy One was handed over to be judged by the very sinners he came to save. In the following verses Peter would go on to deny his master 3 times. Peter would go away hanging his head in bitterness while Jesus, though he would suffer, was strengthened to complete his mission.

Big Question 1: Where is the transformation?

Hebrews 5:7-9 7 During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. 9 After he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him

Big Question 2: What is transformation?

Philippians 4:4-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 11:28

28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Transformation is _________.