The Lord’s prayer in Gethsemene was the most dramatic and heart-wrenching prayer that we have on record. Jesus had been here before. Luke tells us that it was “his custom” to go to “the place” in the garden where he prayed. The intensity of this restless and sad soul on this night is expressed in several ways.
First, by adding the three accounts of this event, we pick up on his body’s posture. Luke says that He knelt down and prayed (Luke 22:41). Mark tells us that He went forward a little and fell on the ground and prayed (Mark. 14:35). Matthew describes Him as “falling on his face” (Matt. 26:39). These descriptions appear to describe a progression that suggests the growth of the soul’s intensity. We are getting a glimpse of the inner turmoil that overwhelmed the Son of God. Jesus had predicted this hour and recognized throughout His life that this hour was the very purpose of his incarnation. Are we to understand that humanity’s dread of death is on display, here? Or, are we to understand the difficulty of one so unworthy to take upon Himself the burden of the world’s sin? Considering the closeness that He had with the Father throughout His tenure on earth and the perfection of His life, imagine the difficulty of bearing the load of man’s guilt and the consequences of being forsaken by His Father (Matt. 27:46). To appreciate the difficulty of one who had never sinned to accept our guilt, one must understand the implication of sin. Today, we are too familiar with it in our own lives. We have sinned and expect that we have not seen the end of it, yet. Sin is such an affront to a Holy God who is our Father that we should abhor the very thought of its presence in our lives. Because we adore the Father and long to be in His presence, sin is not worth the separation and disapproval of our Father. This is the burden expressed on Calvary when Jesus cried, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” If every time we sinned, we could see the Father’s face of disapproval and disappointment, that vision might be the best deterrent of ever repeating it.
Second, the description of his own words depicts the pain of Gethsemene. But, this night was not an ordinary night. Mark tells us that Jesus was greatly amazed and sore troubled (Mark 14:33) and records him saying, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death” (v. 34). The experience of this night is tied to “the hour” of his death. For the first time, Jesus is faced with the experience of being rejected and separated from the Father. The pain of the beatings and crucifixion, though difficult and part of the cup He must drink, it paled in comparison to the dreaded experience of the Father’s withdrawal.
Third, Luke adds to this intense moment of agony when he writes, “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground” (22:24). This may be the topic of another day. Many have taken pen and paper to describe what actually occurred. For now, just recall the language of the text is using a comparison, rather than a scientific occurrence. What is significant is that this prayer is a good example of praying “fervently” or “earnestly.” Prayer is hard work as it involves pouring ourselves out like water and sweating, profusely. Jesus didn’t say His prayers that night. He prayed earnestly!