On the night of his betrayal, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26) (Mark 14) (Luke 22) (John 17). With a heavy heart and the weight of the world on his shoulders, he cried out to God and asked for his will to be done. Why did Jesus go to the Garden of Gethsemane? What did he exactly ask God for? Did God answer his cries? Let’s take a deeper look into the time Jesus spent in the Garden of Gethsemane and what he taught us through his prayer.
Where Was the Garden of Gethsemane?
While the exact location of the Garden of Gethsemane is unknown, we are told the garden was located on the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives sits east of the Old City of Jerusalem. Acts 1:12 tells us the hill was “a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.” Surrounded by olive trees, the hill sat about 200 feet above sea level with an excellent view of the entire city.
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Encyclopedia Britannica explains that the word “Gethsemane” comes from the Hebrew phrase “gat shemanim,” meaning “oil press.” This suggests the Garden of Gethsemane could have been surrounded by olive trees, like the hill it sat upon, with an oil press nearby. An oil press was like a winepress, where workers crushed the fruit, releasing its contents for the greater good. This location is fitting since Jesus was bruised and crushed for humanity. His blood flowed to save his people from their sins.
Scholars have speculated several locations to be the site of the Garden of Gethsemane. Armenian, Greek, Latin, and Russian churches label one spot on the east of the Mount of Olives as the historic place. Another tradition names the present-day “Grotto of the Agony” as the location. A third possibility lies further south, where Franciscan monks built a church on top of 4th-century ruins.
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Why Did Jesus Come to the Garden of Gethsamane?
On the night of his betrayal, Jesus went to the garden to pray. He had just finished his last earthly meal with the disciples, where he hinted at the events of the coming crucifixion (Matthew 26). He declared one of them would betray him. Judas, the future betrayer, initially denied or evaded the circumstances, but they would surely come to pass.
Later, he led his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. After arriving, Jesus left the disciples near the entrance and went further into the garden to pray. Jesus knew the heaviness of the burden to come. He asked God to take the cup from him if possible. The cup symbolized God’s wrath. Jesus knew the cross would bear physical, emotional, and spiritual pain, for it was only through the death of a spotless lamb that the world could be saved.
Jesus also came to the Garden of Gethsemane to fulfill his father’s plan and ultimately save humanity. The plan included betrayal by Judas. Since the garden was a frequented site, it wasn’t hard for Judas to lead the Roman soldiers there. Jesus knew he had to die for the sins of his people. So he went, with a heavy heart, to the place he knew they would find him. Matthew Henry’s commentary notes, “He put himself into this agony, before his enemies gave him any trouble, to show that he was a Freewill offering; that his life was not forced from him, but he laid it down of himself.”
What Was Jesus’ Prayer in the Garden?
“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.’” (Matthew 26:39)
“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.’” (Matthew 26:42)
“So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.” (Matthew 26:44)
Jesus prayed three times in the garden. Each time he began his prayer by acknowledging his father. Even in deep agony, Jesus knew his father was with him. Asking for the cup to be taken from him shows his complete humanity. We, as humans, also hope to escape suffering. This plea from Jesus shows he felt the same human emotions and temptations we do, although he remained without sin. After expressing his humanity and desire to take a different path, Jesus confirmed that, in the end, he wanted to put his desires aside and follow God’s plan.
Did God Answer Jesus’ Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane?
God did answer Jesus’ prayer. While Jesus felt the pain of the burden he was to bear, God strengthened him. In Jesus’ first prayer, he asked God to take the cup from him if possible. God chose not to take the cup away, but he sent help to Jesus amid his suffering. Luke 22:43 tells us, “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.”
Jesus also asked for God’s will to be done. God sent Jesus to earth to ultimately die for our sins. This was the plan all along, and God followed through despite Jesus’ anguish. The events needed to unfold for the greater good, the ultimate sacrifice being paid for our sins so we can have communion with Christ forever.
What Can We Learn from Jesus’ Prayer in the Garden?
We can learn many things from Jesus’ life and prayers, and his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane is no different. As we look at the story, we see at least three vital lessons for today.
The Importance of Time Alone with God
In one of Christ’s darkest moments, he went to the garden to be alone with his father. He brought a few trusted disciples with him, but they waited near the entrance while he went to pray. It’s essential for us as Christ-followers to spend alone time with God, expressing what’s deep in our hearts and allowing him to answer our prayers. It’s good also to spend time with fellow believers, but it cannot replace our one-on-one time with God.
God Answers Prayers in His Own Way
Sometimes we pray, knowing what we want the outcome to be. God will always answer our prayers in the best way for his people and kingdom. First, Jesus pleaded with God to take away his heavy burden, but God didn’t. He knew having Jesus die on the cross was for the greater good. It may seem like God hasn’t answered our prayers, but sometimes it’s just not in the way we expected.
God Provides Strength in Tough Circumstances
Knowing you are about to be beaten, flogged, ridiculed, and crucified is a tremendous weight to bear. While Jesus would walk that path alone, God sent him an angel to strengthen him beforehand. God might not make the situation disappear when we’re in tough circumstances, but he’ll give us much-needed strength.
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The three times Jesus cried out to his father in the Garden of Gethsemane, he asked for his will to be done, even with all the plan entailed. As we know, Jesus was crucified after he was captured that night. The events needed to unfold for Jesus to become the Savior of the World. Being fully human, Jesus felt the heaviness of the situation. He cried out to his father, who heard him and strengthened him.
God is still in the business of strengthening his people. Whatever circumstance we may face, we can cry out to God, knowing he will hear us, answer our prayers, and send us the strength we need to endure.
Further Reading:
Where Does the Bible Mention Jesus’ Prayer in the Garden?
20 Maundy Thursday Prayers from the Bible and Other Sources
Did Jesus Really Sweat Blood in the Garden of Gethsemane?
Photo Credit: GettyImages/salajean
Jenna Brooke Carlson is an elementary dual language teacher in the Chicago suburbs. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers, she enjoys spending time with other writers and perfecting her craft. Her debut novel, Falling Flat, spreads the message that healing can occur, even after tragedy. Along with writing, she’s pursuing her dreams of creating a community of brave young women, who she can encourage to live out their dreams amid challenges and imperfection. Her days are busy, but she’s determined she can conquer anything with a fuzzy blanket and a hot cup of tea. To find out more about Jenna, visit her website at jennabrookecarlson.com.
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