WHAT TO DO IN “GETHSEMANE EXPERIENCE”
MATTHEWS 26:36-46, 47-57.
When you read this scripture you will discover principles from Jesus' experience in Gethsemane that can be applied to our life today. We often find ourselves in painful experiences and if we are not careful we may deny our Lord or behave as unbelievers.
1. Don’t isolate yourself.
Verse 36 “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” Although Jesus was (and is) Lord of lords and King of kings, He involved His disciples in the Gethsemane experience. He knew the importance of His friends in such kind of experience. When you isolate yourself, you open a door for the devil to attack you because you become more vulnerable when you are alone. Sometimes you need someone who values you to sit next to you.
2. Find the right people to share your sorrow.
Verse 37 “And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.” Among the eleven disciples, He chose three of them and then moved a few steps ahead and prayed. These three were not only friends but the close friends. He wanted them to share His sorrow. Surround yourself with the right people. Many people today suffer from depression and high blood pressure simply because they don’t have the right people in their inner circle. Don’t just allow anybody to be your close friend. Many pastors have suffered severely because of surrounding themselves with the wrong elders and deacons. We need divine wisdom when we select the right partners in ministry.
3. Share your deep feelings to your confidant.
Verse 38 “Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” Now after you have found the right people, share your deep feelings. Not sharing your deep feelings can lead to emotional and even physical sickness. We need emotional healing to avoid most of today's physical sicknesses. It is said that women live longer than men because they don’t hide their emotions. Men have a tendency to suppress their feelings when they experience problems or grief. As a result, they die prematurely. Haven't you noticed that there are more widows than widowers in our communities? This problem needs to be addressed even by wives. Allow your husband to shed tears without laughing at him. But don’t be the cause of it.
4. Seek His will without hiding Him your personal will.
Verse 39 “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus didn’t pretend to be ready to die for the world. He was so open and transparent to His Father. It is like He was saying, Father, don’t allow this to happen to me but if You want it to happen let it be. We need to be ready for the will of God even if it is painful. But we must not hide our personal fears either.
5. Know how committed your prayer partners are.
Verse 40 “And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour?” Don’t rely on other people’s prayers just because they say, I will remember you in my prayers (Tuko pamoja). You never know. Probably they are sleeping when you need them most. Whenever possible know the contribution of their prayers to your well-being. Are they people you can trust? Are they available when you need them or only when they need you?
6. Expose the danger of prayerlessness on the battlefield.
Verse 41 “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” It is very dangerous to be prayerless on the battlefield. Be fully equipped when fighting because retreating on the battlefield is deadly. How many people in our overnight prayers sleep in the middle of combat? I wish they knew how deadly this behavior is. Jesus warned His disciples because He knew the consequences of that. If you neglect prayer life, you will frequently fall into temptations and always blame the devil and others for your mistakes.
7. Know that repeating to talk about the same thing increases the intensity.
Verse 42-44 “Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.” I think these summarized verses can hide something very important. The scripture does not mention the time Jesus spent in each prayer session. But for this kind of prayer, He must have spent hours in each session. It is evident that Jesus spent a long time because when He came back He found them asleep. The prayer item in all three times was the same – to prove the will of His Father. How many prayer items do you have on your list for a day of fasting? Are you really praying or just reading aloud?
8. Accept the will of God even if it is painful.
Verse 45-46 “Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” When you discover that God has allowed something to happen, learn to accept it however painful it may be. The Bible clearly says that we will suffer for our faith in Jesus. It is like Jesus was saying I no longer need your prayers for the will of God. I have already confirmed that the time has come for me to die for the world and I wholeheartedly accept it. Are you ready to accept the will of God for your life even if it is painful?
9. Know that your enemy can help to fulfill your divine destiny.
Verse 47-50 “While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.” Sometimes our enemies are God’s instruments for our divine destiny. No one can betray you unless he knows you very well. Judas was one of His disciples so he knew the schedule and venue for Jesus’ meetings and devotion time. He knew where and when to locate Jesus. Imagine one of His disciples (His treasurer) leading enemies to arrest Jesus whom they didn't know. Who knows, maybe one day close friend will sell you to your enemies? Don’t overreact when that happens. See him or her as your friend promoting you to another level.
10. Fight the good fight of faith.
Verse 51-55 “And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.” Don’t fight like unbelievers who do not know God. God bought you at a great price. Have a mind of Christ. If your friends try to help you in fighting against your enemies, stop them. Ask them to give you a ministry of reconciliation instead. Avoid revenge!
11. Your close friend may one day desert you.
Verse 56 “But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.” Imagine all disciples fleeing instead of protecting Jesus. If you are not prepared for your close friends to desert you one day, you will be shocked when it happens. If close friends did that to our Lord, we may experience the same. We have to put our total trust in our Lord who never dies and never changes His mind. All people around us are mortal so they cannot be trusted for our security.
12. Religion without Jesus will kill you.
Verse 57 “Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.” Religious leaders of the day were at the forefront of killing Jesus. Even today, dead religion is the stumbling block in our walk with our Lord Jesus. Leaders who are expected to show you a true way may block and hinder your spiritual progress. Forgive them and move on.
I just wanted to relate what Jesus experienced in Gethsemane to our Christian life today. This message can encourage us and shape us to stand firm in case it happens to any of us. God richly bless you as you meditate on this message.
Dr Lawi Mshana, +255712924234; Korogwe, Tanga, Tanzania
