12th April - Jesus in the Garden
Luke 22:39-53
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Reflections by Irene Jeong
Born into a Christian family, church was my weekly pattern since birth. Although I had never doubted the existence of God, God had plans to use various life events to pierce my complacent heart. My upbringing was shaped by constant adjustments to new countries and schools, pain from lost relationships, homesickness, and struggles with a sense of belonging. Ironically, it was at the peak of these struggles that I experienced God’s grace, meeting Jesus personally and tangibly during a time of prayer in high school. That moment was beyond any intellectual understanding, it was one of certainty and warmth I had never experienced before. I could find security in Jesus, my closest friend who surpasses all physical borders and circumstances. But this also meant that He bore my sin on the cross for me, and for the first time ever, all I could genuinely say was, “I’m so sorry Jesus,” for contributing to your death. My faith journey has obviously been far from perfect since, but that moment has fuelled my journey of sanctification. I’m so grateful to know Jesus’ kindness.
(If you have a moment, feel free to listen to ‘Unashamed’ by Starfield)
What jumps out at you from this reading?
There’s such a clear contrast between Jesus and the disciples in this scene. Jesus instructs his disciples to pray (v40), then models it himself by kneeling down and praying earnestly. Jesus is persistent and fully committed to his prayer in the face of trial. The disciples on the other hand, fail to follow his example and fall asleep instead (v45). Though their lack of commitment and sleepiness may almost seem comedic, it makes me reflect on my own behaviour before God.
What questions does this reading raise for you?
Jesus was clearly in intense agony over the ‘cup’ set before him. Do I truly grasp the extent of God’s wrath? Does it terrify me as it terrified Jesus?
Why did Luke include the detail of Jesus’ sweat becoming like drops of blood falling down to the ground (v44), when the other Gospel writers didn’t mention it?
What do you think the writer is urging his readers to believe or do?
As Jesus prays alone, Luke portrays him as one who suffers for the sake of salvation. We see a suffering Saviour who had to endure intense agony. To top it off, Judas arrives in this scene, ready to betray his Lord. And yet, despite the cost, we see a Son who still remains faithful to his Father’s divine will, declaring “Not my will, but yours, be done” (v32).
What in this reading would you talk about with a friend and why?
I find it so sweet that an angel appeared from heaven to strengthen Jesus as he prayed (v43). In a moment when he would have felt so alone and forsaken, surrounded by his sleeping disciples on a cold mountain, how encouraging the angel’s presence must have been. Though God did not remove the cup from Jesus, God was not absent in his suffering.