Gethsemane

"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, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22: 39-42 (NIV)

This intense gospel drama brings us into the final hours of a good man’s life. Jesus is preparing to be arrested, tortured, crucified. The tender upper room last supper has been eaten. Judas is actively betraying his friend, Jesus Christ. Jesus gathers his faithful eleven disciples/friends to keep him company as he prays "Not my will." He is in spiritual agony, physical distress and personal temptation. His beloved and trusted companions fail him and cannot stay awake. Jesus needed community in his last hours. The disciples have watched and listened to him teach, preach and heal the sick for three years. They’ve begged him to teach them to pray. They’ve argued over who is the greatest. They now slumber.

From time to time Jesus wakes them with the admonition, "Pray that you may not come into the time of trial/temptation.......Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done." The text tells us he prayed in anguish. His sweat became like great drops of blood. The only disciple who will hear Christ pray again before he dies is John the beloved disciple. He is the one who hears his dear friend pray from the cross only hours later, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." "Into thy hands I commend my spirit." "It is finished." Only John loved enough to bravely stand with the women at the cross.

We see the reality and humanness of Jesus the man (Luke 22: 36 - 46). Jesus needed companions to be with him in his hour of crisis. He needed friends to be with him in prayer. Stay awake and pray for times of trial. The spirit is willing. The flesh is weak. Please take this cup, if it is possible, otherwise, Father, your will be done. Christ prayed again and again praying for strength and courage with great drops of bloody sweat streaming down his face as he prepared for the hour of his death.

In Mark’s gospel (14:36) we read a parallel account. "He said, "Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want." The Greek reads, "Abba ho Pater." We could read this as "Daddy, dear Father."

The early church picked up on this revolutionary concept of having a trusting relationship with a beloved heavenly Parent. We find the tender name of "Abba" two more times in the Pauline writings from Romans 8:15 and Galations 4:6. Jesus gives us permission to pray "Abba" as beloved sons and daughters of God. God promised in 2 Samuel 7:14 "I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters." This is for seekers of all sexual orientations. We are not called to change our sexual orientation, only invited to accept our belovedness as children of God.

All of us will experience Gethsemanes in our lifetime. They are moments of great spiritual distress, fear and anguish. We may be experiencing hatred and betrayal. We may be called to pick up our cross and we don’t want to do it. We want to be spared the cost of discipleship. In our deepest pains, grief’s and troubles we can call, "Abba, oh Father." We have a loving, tender heavenly Parent who cares deeply for us.

Even Christ needed prayer companions in Gethsemane. Sleeping friends were better than being alone. If Christ needed companions, we would be wise to ask for friends to be with us in our Gethsemanes. Don’t be upset when they let us down. Judas betrayed, the others slumbered, Peter denied their relationship and they all ran away in fear. We see a picture of life drama and human frailties.

Take this cup. What is our cup in life we are called to drink? Sorrow? Suffering? Persecution? Costly discipleship? Sacrificing personal ambition? Greed? Comfort? Give it to God.

Not my will. All of us will need to surrender to God’s will. Some of us kick, scream, gnash our teeth. Christ in anguish sweat great drops of blood.

Thy will be done. If we pray this, our lives will be changed. We will be transformed.

Even as Christ was dying a tortured death, he modeled prayer for us with his final breaths.

"Father, forgive." One of my favorite places to pray is at the Washington National Cathedral. To the side of the main sanctuary is a small area with a kneeler space for one person. In front of the prayer kneeler is a wooden cross, with a cross of nails centered on it. At the bottom of the cross the words are engraved, "Father, forgive."

Several years ago on a US Navy ship, a chaplain had a quiet good Friday service onboard. A number of sailors attended. Some had never gone to church before. The liberty bus was waiting to take the sailors into town for an evening of social activities. These few chose to pause and remember what happened on a hill far away, a long time ago. As the humble service continued with simple scripture readings of the betrayal, arrest and death of Christ, a young sailor listened intently. He impulsively said, "Chaplain, I need what Christ did for me on the cross!" He repeated this several times in the service. With the chaplain, he went to his knees and prayed. "Jesus, I need what you did for me on the cross!"

All of us have forgiveness issues. Human nature clings to grudge holding which leads to destructive spiritual bitterness and venom. For spiritual growth, healing and maturity, we must forgive as Christ has forgiven us. Father, forgive. A spiritual retreat with only these two words could be a spiritually healing experience. If you are in counseling, share this intentional spiritual work with your counselor, pastor, spiritual friend and/or prayer partners. Take the time to prepare yourself for this spiritual exercise. Expect some possible additional counseling. It will be worth the healing. If the Parental name for God is offensive or a block for your prayer, simply give yourself permission to omit or change it. It may take years of hard work to forgive, but God will honor your feelings. We need to forgive, as Christ forgave. We all need what Christ did for us on the cross.

God will help us in all our forgiveness issues. Wholeness, peace of mind and divine blessing will be ours. Perhaps as we linger by the cross, God may lead us to forgive ourselves or someone in our lives. God bless you in your spiritual journey. God’s peace be with you. May you find yourself "surprised by joy." Amen.

About the author: "Surprisedbyjoy@yahoo.com" is an ordained Christian UFMCC minister who has found God wonder-full to be with. She received her Masters in Divinity at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, completed her Doctor of Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary. She is also a graduate from the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. All readers are invited to distribute these meditations from http://soulfoodministry.org for their personal use and ministry outreach.