All of Jesus’ life had been moving towards one outcome. He had spoken about it over and over again as he and his disciples were travelling towards Jerusalem. He knew he was about to be betrayed and ultimately executed. So what did he do to prepare himself for this final ordeal?

“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed…” (Luke 22:39-41 NIV)

At the foot of the Mount of Olives was an olive orchard – in fact, from what we can tell the entire hillside may have been covered with olive groves. This was a place that Jesus often visited with his disciples – it was outside the walls and away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was a place they could go and relax. This is where Jesus chose to spend his last evening with these men who had become more than his students but his friends.

Notice Jesus’ concern for these men: before praying for himself he told them to pray. He knew this was going to be a testing time for them even though he had tried to prepare them for it. He told them to pray that they would not be tempted in what was about to happen.

Jesus went about a “stone’s throw” from them – I don’t know about you but the question that comes to my mind is “how far is a ‘stone’s throw’”? Perhaps it depends on who is doing the throwing! The indication would be he went a small distance from them so he could pray alone, but not too far that they would fear he had left. He then began to pray.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

This is a simple prayer but there is so much contained in it. We see that he would rather not have to go through the torture and death that he was facing – Roman execution by crucifixion was one of the most painful, torturous, slow deaths that humans have ever devised. He knew what he was facing and asked God if possible to find another way. But notice his willingness to obey even though this was not what he wanted: “yet not my will, but yours be done”.

It wasn’t about what he wanted or didn’t want. It was about what God wanted. How often when faced with a difficult decision to we decide based on what we want or what makes us happy? How often do we avoid anything that might be uncomfortable or painful? Yet Jesus was willing to embrace a horrible death if that was what God wanted.

“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. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ‘Why are you sleeping?’ he asked them. ‘Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.’” (Luke 22:43-46)

The other writers tell us that Jesus repeated this prayer several times. Luke records the intensity of the prayer, his sweat falling from him like drops of blood. Luke also included the immediate strength he received from his Father – heavenly messengers joined him with the purpose of giving him the strength that he needed.

I often feel for the disciples – they had fallen asleep. Jesus must have been gone for a while, intensely praying to his Father. It was late at night, they had eaten a nice meal, and they drifted off rather than praying with Jesus – Luke tells us that they were “exhausted from sorrow”.

Is prayer what comes to mind when we go through difficult times? Yet this is where we find real strength to face the struggles of life. May we “pray without ceasing”.

Photo of Garden of Gethsemane by Jon Galloway.

Readings for next week: Luke 18-22