This post is part of a 40-day journey following Jesus in his prayer life. We’ll explore virtually every reference in the Gospels to Jesus and prayer. For a more in-depth treatment, see my book Prayers from the Pit.
“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.’ And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.’ 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.’ And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ 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. 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’” (Matt. 26:36-46 ESV).
Notice the first part of this prayer: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…” These words flow from a heart that is “sorrowful and troubled” and a soul that is “very sorrowful, even to death.” Three times, Luke tells us, this sorrowful and troubled Jesus prayed “the same words.”
“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…”
“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…”
“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…”
This prayer is a lament. A complaint. Jesus is despondent. He deeply dislikes his circumstances and desperately begs God to change them. Jesus does not keep his “happy face” on. He does not piously pretend nothing is wrong. Instead, he is honest with the Father about his feelings and frustrations. He puts the sorrow and trouble into words and groans them out to the Father.
Is there a cup of suffering you’ve been forced to drink? What frustrations have you been holding back from God? What despair has gone unspoken to God? Take time today and be honest and transparent with God about all of this. Put your sorrow and trouble into words and pray them out loud.
