On the Mount of Olives
Luke 22.39-46:
He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly – and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples & found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Jesus prayed on the Mount of Olives for His Father to take away the cup from His hand that meant His death on the cross. It demonstrated the humanity of Jesus. It’s not difficult to imagine how great His anticipation was concerning the events He was about to face. There come times in the life of all Jesus-followers when we must also choose between God’s will and our own … and that choice, like Jesus’ choice, displays our level of commitment and obedience to God, as well as the true condition of our hearts.
Even though Jesus was aware of the fate He was about to face when He prayed on the Mount of Olives for God to alter the events, His prayer was that the Father’s will (and His alone) be done – regardless of what the future held for Him. Even with the impending reality of being nailed to the cross where His life’s breath would slip away, Jesus continued to teach us the great need to obey God, the importance of trusting Him in every situation, despite our fears and uncertainties.