The Final Prayers

After the Last Supper, we continue our journey with Jesus towards the cross by stopping at the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem. The Gospels say that Jesus often used this garden for prayer when he visited the city. That already tells us a lot about Jesus! It shows us how important prayer was to him and how he always set aside time for uninterrupted, focused prayer. However, let us stop for a moment and consider Jesus choosing to pray at this moment right after the Last Supper.

Jesus knew exactly what was about to happen to him next: arrest, betrayal, trials, beatings, and then crucifixion. Again, we ask the question, “If we knew that all of this was about to happen to us, what would we do with our last hours?” Throughout his ministry, Jesus often went away to pray, as well to teach about what prayer is and is not. So, it makes sense that Jesus would use some of his last hours before his arrest and eventual crucifixion for prayer to his Father. He wanted to spend time in relationship with God his Father, pouring out his heart and emotion before experiencing great suffering. The Bible says he was distressed and deeply troubled, having sorrow to the point of death. We know that in our lives there will be times of great challenge and even sorrow. That is when we need more than ever to spend time with God and pour out our hearts before him. We need him to fill us with his love and comfort us with his Holy Spirit. Like the disciples who kept falling asleep during the time of prayer, our “flesh is willing, but our spirit is weak!”

Jesus had a prayer request to lay before his Father as well. He asked the Father if the cup of suffering could be taken from him. However—and this is so important—he said, “not what I will, but what you will” after he made his request. Jesus’ flesh did not want to suffer the cross, but he knew it was the will of the Father and the only way to bring forgiveness and salvation to the world.

As we prepare for Easter, we need to remember the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus desires for us to spend time in prayer with him as well. In our prayers, we too can say, “Not our will, but yours be done.”

Let us pick up our cross and follow him.