Consecration For Sacrifice
CONSECRATION FOR SACRIFICE
MATTHEW 26:36-46
Jesus submits completely to his Father’s will.
Gethsemane lay on the west slope of Olivet. Peter, James and John, who had witnessed his glory on the mount of transfiguration, now witness his agony, as he nerves himself for the impending ordeal and dedicates himself definitively for the accomplishment of his Father’s will. For “cup” (26:39) in the sense of “lot” cf. 20:22f. While the spiritual conflict was something which he must endure alone, he craved sympathetic companionship, but this even his closest friends among the Twelve were unable to supply. If they felt themselves to be in the presence of a mystery so awe-ful that they were quite unequal to its demands, the reader of the narrative can share something of their feeling. “Watch” (26:38,40f.) means “keep awake” both in the literal sense and in the sense of vigilance against the assault which was about to be made on their souls by the forces of evil. Their resolution to stand firm and share his ordeal (26:35) was good; their capacity to abide by it when the test came was questionable (26:41). “Pray that you may not enter into temptation” (that you may not fail in the test) is reminiscent of the Lord’s Prayer (6:13) as is also “Thy will be done” (26:42; cf. 6:10). Jesus rose from his vigil prepared in spirit for the test that he had to face; it would be a test for them too, and how they acquitted themselves under it is recorded tersely in 26:56b.
“Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?” (26:45) is rightly punctuated as a question; treated as a command, it fits the context (especially 26:46) with difficulty.
The kingdom of God as proclaimed by Jesus could not have been more completely embodied than in him who said “not as I will, but as thou wilt” (26:39)—and acted accordingly.