Praying in the Garden

“Yet not what I will, but what You will.” — Mark 14:36

After the supper, Jesus and His disciples went out to a garden of olive trees called Gethsemane. It was late at night.

“Sit here while I pray,” Jesus told most of the disciples. He took Peter and James and John with Him, a little further into the garden.

Then Jesus began to be very troubled and full of sorrow. “My soul is so sad, I feel I could die,” He told them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

Jesus knew what was about to happen. He knew that soon He would be arrested, and that He would suffer and die. And He knew that on the cross He would carry the sin of the whole world. It was the hardest thing anyone has ever had to do.

Jesus went a little further and fell to the ground and prayed. “Abba, Father,” He prayed. Abba is the word a child uses for “Dad”. “Everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet not what I want, but what You want.”

Then Jesus came back to the three disciples. And they were asleep!

“Simon, are you asleep?” Jesus said to Peter. “Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray, so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Jesus went away again and prayed the same prayer. When He came back, the disciples were asleep again. Their eyes were so heavy, they didn’t know what to say to Him.

A third time Jesus went away and prayed. Luke tells us that an angel from heaven came and gave Him strength. And Jesus prayed even harder, in such anguish that His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

When Jesus came back the third time, He said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. Get up! Let’s go! Look, here comes the one who is betraying Me!”

In the garden, Jesus didn’t want to suffer. He was a real man, and He felt real sorrow and fear. But He wanted to do His Father’s will even more. “Not what I want, but what You want.” He chose to go to the cross, because He loved His Father, and He loved us.

Read it in your Bible: Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:39–46

Dear Jesus, thank you that you chose to do your Father’s will, even though it was so hard. When I have to do something hard, help me to pray, “Not what I want, but what you want.” Amen.