Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Read Luke 22:39-46.
TEXT: And being in an agony He prayed more
earnestly (see Luke 22:44).

After the Last Supper we read, "He came out
and went, as was His custom, to the Mount of
Olives." Judas knew that custom well. He knew
where he could lead the temple police to arrest
Jesus. By choosing this place and not a
location unknown to Judas, Jesus is already
surrendering Himself to His Father's plan.

Jesus instructs His disciples to pray. He then
withdraws from them, kneels down and prays,
"Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from
Me." This cup is God's furious wrath at all our sins.
Drinking down that punishment will be bitter and
deadly. But Jesus submits Himself to His
Father's grand design, "Not My will, but Yours,
be done."

The Father sends an angel to strengthen Jesus'
body. He did the same after Jesus fasted 40 days
in the wilderness, being tempted by Satan. This
angel strengthens and renews Jesus' human mind
and body to fully face the horror of the wrath of God
coming upon Him.

But the struggle is not yet over. Jesus still dreads
the cup the Father holds out for Him. We see the
intensity of Jesus' struggle as Luke the physician
writes, "His sweat became like great drops of blood
falling down to the ground." Tiny blood vessels under
the skin can rupture under extreme stress, permitting
blood to mingle with the sweat. The struggle lasts for
hours before Jesus is finally at peace. He rises to His
feet, ready to drink the cup down to its dregs.

THE PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, Your bitter sufferings in the garden
prepared You for the fiery trial to come. Give me grace
and strength to pray to You in the darkest hours of my
life, for my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)