Lesson 3235

 (Lesson 3235)(11-11-20) Matthew 26:36-45

    “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, 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. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

    Today’s quote tells us that His chosen apostles could did stay awake and stand watch as Jesus prayed at Gethsemane.

    There is something that, to me, is very interesting about today’s quote. Therein, it is said that Jesus asked God the Father to, if it were possible, release Him from the horrible task that stood Him. 

    Seeing that there were no witnesses to what Jesus actually said, because the apostles were some distance away and were also said to be asleep, there is no way to be sure that Jesus actually asked God to remove the cup. 

   What Jesus supposedly prayed, as it is written in Matthew, seems to me to be an addition to the actual even, put in place by the Roman Catholics in an attempt to play on the emotions those who might read the passage. 

    I cannot believe that Jesus, knowing from the beginning of time, that His devine mission required His death in the flesh of a man, would have asked that the task be taken from Him. Jesus was human, just like you and me but there is no other account that describes Jesus as having doubts about, or His displaying an unwillingness to fulfill His divine purpose.~