Jesus Prayed Fervently
39And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. 40When He arrived at the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."
41And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." 43Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.
44And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. 45When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 46and said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation."
The hour for Jesus' suffering and death was drawing near. In the midst of His agony He encouraged his disciples twice saying, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." He then led by example, going a little further and kneeling down to pray. In His agony, "He was praying very fervently." As He was praying, we see His example of going to God for grace. He looked at what was coming and did not want to go through it. But even as He had the thought, He surrendered it to God's desire not His own fleeting desire.
"Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."
Thank You, Jesus, for surrendering to the Father your desire to escape the suffering and death and by God’s power choosing to endure suffering on my behalf. Thank You for leaving me an example to follow of suffering "according to God's will" by entrusting myself to a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19)
Verna McCrillis, 12/30/2009