Not My Will

And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. When He arrived at 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 He knelt down and began to pray, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Luke 22:39-46


TWICE He said it: "pray that you may not enter into temptation." The temptation would be to panic and flee in fear. This was not a time to relax and drowse, but in their state of stunned exhaustion, they were overcome with lethargy ("sleeping from sorrow"). Too dull and drained to concentrate. Stunned and exhausted from the fast-paced ministries they had been attending to throughout the region with their Master. Stunned and exhausted from the new doctrines and dire prophesies they had been hearing from Him. Overloaded with anxiety for Him and themselves, after the predictions of arrest and death that they couldn't seem to comprehend. They truly had left all and followed Him (Luke 18:28, Peter). And now He tells them He will soon die and they must go on in this hostile world without Him, not yet having received those thrones He has promised. They should have been awake and praying for God's strength to support their weak wills in this, their greatest crisis.

Jesus did pray, fervently, to the point of bloody sweat. This was His greatest agony. He, Himself was being tempted to resist the Cup of Wrath He had been sent to drink. His whole objective in becoming a man was just hours away, and He foreknew the pain and fear that would come upon Him as He was separated from the Father and the Holy Spirit. If there could be any other way, Father, let this cup pass. Luke tells us an angel came and ministered to Him as He pleaded before the Father.

"Why groans he so tonight? Is it not plain
He's tormented by a fear he can't erase?
Some deadly grief the heart cannot contain."

-from Root Out Of Dry Ground by Gilbert Morris

Knowing, however, that there could be no other way, the Son submitted to the Father's will. Now He had endured His agony of fear and dread before the Father. Now He was resolved to enter the winepress. It was coming soon and He was ready. In that moment, the deed was essentially done. The disciples, however, were still sleeping. All except Judas. Jesus had earlier dismissed him to carry out his evil deed.