The Motley Crew Time

June 8, 2011

Matthew 26:36-46

The Questions

Read Matthew 26:36-46

1. What is Gethsemane?

2. I wonder why Jesus would take them there?

3. Where is your Gethsemane?

4. What do we learn from Jesus in verses 38 and 39?

5. What is the cup?

6. Compare Jesus' face in the dirt to Psalm 22:6 to capture the depth of His sorrow.

7. Isn't this kind of submissiveness too much to ask?

8. What do you think about verse 41?

9. Then the whole scene places out again – like a re-run. How could they fall asleep again … and again … and again?

10. Matthew leaves out what I think is a very important part of the passion of Jesus – see Luke 23:43-44. I wonder why Matthew left it out?

Unless otherwise indicated, all citations from the Holy Bible are from the New International Version 1984, copyright 1984, used with permission.

The Motley Crew Time

June 8, 2011

Matthew 26:36-46

Some Suggested Answers

We opened with prayer.

We will not meet next Wednesday due to Vacation Bible School. Our next Bible Study will be on June 22.

Read Matthew 26:36-46

Gethsemane

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

 39 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.”

 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

 42 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.”

 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Parallel Verses

1. What is Gethsemane?

The word “Gethsemane” means “oil press.” The Lutheran Study Bible describes it as a “Walled garden where olives were pressed for oil. On the lower western reaches of the Mount of Olives, across the Kidron Valley to the east of Jerusalem. Jesus and His disciples frequently met here.” Note 26:36, p. 1642.

Right: Photograph of the Garden of Gethsemane,  Source: Kentwood Christian Church, Sermon on the Garden of Gethsemane

2. I wonder why Jesus would take them there?

It must have been quiet and secluded. In John 18:2, we read that “ Jesus had often met there with his disciples ...” Likewise in Luke 21:37 we read that “Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives....” (NIV). And finally, in Luke 22:39, it was written that “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.” (NIV).

The Archeological Study Bible noted that

“Luke indicated that this place was one to which Jesus customarily went and that it was located on the Mount of Olives. John 18:1, without naming the site, explains that this was a grden across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem. The traditional site, cared for by the Franciscans, is not far from the road, near the bridge over the Kidron, and is laid out in neat gardens.” Note 26:36-56, p. 1612.

Dr. Alfred Edersheim gave this description of Gethsemane in his The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah:

… we love to think of this ‘Garden’ as the place where Jesus ‘often’ - not merely on this occassion, but perhaps on previous visits to Jerusalem - gathered with His disciples. It was a quiet resting-place, for retirement, prayer, perhaps sleep, and a trysting-place also where not only the Twelve, but others also, may have been wont to meet the Master.

3. Where is your Gethsemane?

There were various places mentioned by the members, including in the office, the bedroom, the woods, up a tree, the seashore, the mountains, the river, star watching, etc.

Pastor said that it is imperative to have a time & place to spend with the Lord, and not just once a week in worship, but, as much as possible, being in the Spirit throughout the day.

See:

• The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence: Rich Text Format | MS Word | PDF | HTML

• First Passion Sermon (Matthew 26:36-46), from Martin Luther's Holy Week series "Sermons on the Passion of Christ." This is an excellent sermon on Christ's prayer at Gethsemane, and how His prayer can guide our prayer.

These and other similar resources are located on the Prayer and Study Resources page that also hosts the Motley Crew notes.

4. What do we learn from Jesus in verses 38 and 39?

Verses 38 & 39: Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 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.”

Jesus is crushed, beaten down. It appears as if all of His power is gone. There was no where else to turn. It was the blackest night. So He prayed to the Father!

There must have been some sadness on His part because of those who chose not to accept the Good News. But watching Him throughout His ministry, we learn: keep on praying … in His will.

5. What is the cup?

It was a Jewish symbol of deep sorrow.

Matthew 27:46. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi,[a] lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Psalm 22:1.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
   Why are you so far from saving me,
   so far from the words of my groaning?

How stark it must have been for Him who had never before been forsaken by God.

2 Cor. 5:21. God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Footnotes:

1. Or be a sin offering

He who had never experienced sin became the sin offering for all! He experienced the entire Wrath of God for our sakes. Although He didn't commit these sins, he paid the price for being a pedophile, a thief, a murderer, a sodomite … all of the basest sins of mankind. He is facing a painful and shameful death … on my account, a fact that I am reminded of each Good Friday when I pound my nail into His cross!

Dr. Lenski wrote at pp. 1038-1039:

Jesus now orders the three disciples to stay where they are and to keep watching with him. Their nearness and their watching are to be a slight comfort to Jesus in his distress of soul. Alas, this comfort was denied him, for the three disciples slept.

But the battle that Jesus fights in this hour he must necessarily fight alone. He alone must now will “to lay down his life,” “to give his life as ransom for many,” to be made sin and a curse for us. The imagination faints before the images thus rising up before it. Who can imagine all this abominable sin, all this damnable curse! And the holy Son of God is now to plunge into it – the great and awful moment is almost here.

He was a man like us in all ways except sin, and there are few among us, if any, who would not be shaken at the prospect.

John 18:11. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

It was also noted that the depth of His suffering, including the scouraging, etc., may have speeded up His death on the Cross, although He chose the time to die: “It is finished.” John 19:30.

The NIV Study Bible commented that the cup was “a symbol of deep sorrow and suffering. Hre it refers to his Father's face being turned away from him when he who had no sin was made sin (perhaps a sin offering) for us.” Note 26:39, p. 1660.

Pastor Eddie wanted us to be sure to catch this month's reading in The Unshakable Truth that powerfully deals with the Trinity.

6. Compare Jesus' face in the dirt to Psalm 22:6 to capture the depth of His sorrow.

Psalm 22:6. 6 But I am a worm and not a man,
   scorned by men and despised by the people.

The leaders of the people He came to save were conspiring to kill Him. Matthew 26:3-4. A mob would shout down Pilate, demanding His death: “Crucify him, crucify him.” Luke 23:21. Knowing everything that was about to happen, His sorrow was immense, unfathonable.

Isaiah 53:3

He was despised and rejected by others,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

The Hebrew word for suffering includes both physical and mental pain, according to the NIV Study Bible, note 53:3, p. 1208.

The NIV Study Bible commented:

Jesus did not die serenely as many martyrs have. He was no mere martyr; he was the Lamb of God bearing the penalty of the sins of the entire human race. The wrath of God was turned loose on him. Only this can adequately explain what took place at Gethsemane. Note 26:38-39, p. 1660.

The Lutheran Study Bible noted concerning the expression sorrowful, even to death that “Fully human, Jesus experienced the horror and difficulty of death; unlike all others, He had done nothing to deserve this death.” Note 26:38, p. 1642. They added that the expression fell on His face was a common posture of overwhelmed worshipers. Note 26:39, p. 1642.

7. Isn't this kind of submissiveness too much to ask?

No! This maybe one of the biggest challenges of our society to our faith. We don't want to be submissive but strong. That old “Protestant Work Ethic” causes some to stumble, and acts as a roadblock to reception of His grace. It is only when we are completely submissive to the Will of God that will be able to fully embrace the Good News.

The editor's of the Lutheran Study Bible wrote

Jesus prays three times in Gethsemane, while His disciples give themselves over to sleep rather than to prayer. How often we get ourselves into trouble because we do not bother to pray! Pour our your heart to the Lord in sincere prayer again and again. Christ's prayer and obedience to the Father open the portals of heaven to your prayers.” Note 26:36-46, p. 1642.

The example of Jesus repeating the same set of prayers to the Father three times is a good example for us to follow: “repetition in prayer is not wrong, so long as one's heart is sincere in the asking.” Lutheran Study Bible, note 26:44, p. 1642.

Martin Luther reportedly said that “whenever I happen to be prevented by the press of duties from observing my hour of prayer, the entire day is bad for me. Prayer helps us very much and gives us a cheerful heart, not on account of any merit in the work, but because we have spoken with God and found everything to be in order.” Cited by Viet Dietrich, Table Talk #122, “Treatment of Melancholy, Despair, Etc.,” Nov. 30, 1531. Emphasis added. See Luther's Works, Vol. 54, p. 17.

Pastor reminded us of the quotation: “Pray like everything depends on your prayers. Work like everything depends on your work!”

Martin Luther, however, is alleged to have said: “Pray like it all depends on God, then when you are done, go work like it all depends on you.” [Couldn't find this one in Luther's Works, but the quote may be wrong … on multiple levels.]

8. What do you think about verse 41?

Verse 41. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Amen! Lord, keep me in the Spirit! Not in the flesh!

The Lutheran Study Bible observed “Our new spiritual nature may be strong, but it is burdened by the flesh, our old sinful self.” Note 26:41, p. 1642. They then quoted Luther:

O Father, we are faint and ill, and the trials in the flesh and in the world are severe and manifold. O dear Father, hold us and do not let us fall into temptation and sin again, but give us grace to remain steadfast and fight valiantly to the end. Without your grace and your help, we are not able to do anything.” (quoting Luther's Works. American Edition, “An Exposition of the Lord's Prayer,” Volume 42, p. 80).

9. Then the whole scene places out again – like a re-run. How could they fall asleep again … and again … and again?

Verse 41 again: “The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

The day started early. Bethany was a couple of miles from Jerusalem. The dinner was after sundown, and included four glasses of wine. Then they went to the Garden. It was very late. Matthew and Mark both reported that they were “sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.” Luke reported that they were “asleep, exhausted from sorrow.”

Peter and John do have something of an excuse. It was these two that went to Jerusalem early to get set up for the Passover meal, which would include getting the sacrificial lamb, having it sacrificed, roasting the meat, and transporting to the location of the Last Supper. Then there was the unleavened bread, the bitter herbs, and, of course, the wine … and they didn't have Jesus there early to get the best wine, as He did in Cana. These boys were just tuckered out.

And although they'd been told many times what to expect generally, these three disciples did not know what was going to be happening that night.

“The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Pastor pointed out Romans 6:5-11.

 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Footnotes:

1. Romans 6:6 Or be rendered powerless

The Disciples were present for the Cup of Suffering, and although they couldn't share that Cup that night, they would share that Cup on other nights in their lives, and would also share in the Cup of Redemption.

Post Script concerning Peter, James and John.

It was Peter, James and John that accompanied Jesus the short distance past where the other Apostles were sitting in the Garden of Gethsemane. These three men had perhaps the closest relationship to Jesus. It was these three (and Andrew) that were the first Disciples called by Jesus. Mark 1:14-20. These three accompanied Jesus when the Lord healed the daughter of Jairus, the synagogue ruler . Mark 5:37. These three witnessed the Transfiguration. Matt. 17:1-13. And these three would be among the most important of the Apostles in the early Church after the Ascension of the Lord.

10. Matthew leaves out what I think is a very important part of the passion of Jesus – see Luke 22:43-44. I wonder why Matthew left it out?

Luke 22:43-44. An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

We can't be sure, although each of the Gospels was written for a specific audience, and facts were inserted or omitted in order to best achieve that specific goal of audience selection. This is a good reason to read all the Gospels; this way we can see the full picture.

Beth mentioned the excellent work done by Dr. Alfred Edersheim in The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, who did a good job of blending Jesus' life together from the Gospels, together with his personal knowledge of Jewish traditions. The previous link points to the text at the CCEL web site, and includes Edersheim's description of the events at Gethsemane.

We closed with prayer.

And as we will be on hiatus next week, we'll see each other again for the Motley Crew Bible Study on June 22.

For Additional Study

The Prayer And Study Resources web page has a listing of some research web sites that I use. In addition, Additional Research Resources is a page with a more complete list of Bible and Lutheran resources, plus there is the Research Resources Checklist, which is the web page I use when I first begin a Bible study. Both of these last two web pages are always growing, and please let me know if you are aware of other great sites.