Matthew 26:36-56

SUMMARY
In today’s bible reading, Jesus went to Gethsemane to pray accompanied by three of his disciples, Peter, James and John; the sons of Zebedee. Jesus asked His disciples to keep watch with Him, as he was troubled and sorrowful to the point of death. He left them to pray asking God to let the cup pass over Him if it is His will. Three times, He went to pray and came back to find His disciples sleeping, hence He rebuked them for sleeping rather than praying.
At the appointed hour, Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss so that the people who wanted to kill Him would recognize Him. A disciple of Jesus struck down the ear of a servant of the high priest who wanted to seize Jesus, and Jesus healed the man. Jesus addressed the crowd saying that His arrest took place so the writings of the prophets will be fulfilled. Thereafter His disciples deserted him and fled.

LIFE APPLICATION
The above bible passage states that Jesus was troubled and He went to pray. This simply teaches us that Prayer rather than worry is the prerequisite to solving issues. Jesus did not sit to brood and worry over his challenges; He rather sought the face of God. As Christians, our first and only option in troubled times should be Prayer.
Also, the test of discipleship can be seen in the above passage. Jesus’ disciples could not obey Him, nor sacrifice by staying awake to pray with Him. It’s no wonder they deserted Him and fled when He was arrested. Many believers today make declarations of the sacrifice they can make for Christ, but the question is ‘Right now, are you making the little sacrifices that show that you love and believe in Him?
Selah!

PERSONAL DECLARATION
Day by day dear Lord, I will see you more clearly, love you more dearly and follow you more nearly.

Reading – Matthew 26:36-56

Gethsemane

³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

⁴³ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

⁴⁵ Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Jesus Arrested

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”^[a]

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 26:50 Or “Why have you come, friend?”

All scriptural passages are taken from the NIV version of the bible.