Luke 22: 39 – 46 Agony in the Garden

Luke 22: 39 – 46 Agony in the Garden

For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, namely, 'He was counted among the wicked'; and indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment." Then they said, "Lord, look, there are two swords here." But he replied, "It is enough!" Then going out he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived at the place he said to them, "Pray that you may not undergo the test." After withdrawing about a stone's throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done." (And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him. He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground.) When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief. He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test."

Two things immediately jump out at me in this scripture. First, twice during the passage Jesus says to his disciples “Pray that you may not be put to the test”, and “Pray that you may not be subjected to the trial.” These are some of the same words that Jesus used when he taught his followers to pray The Our Father. Somehow, down through the ages they have been changed slightly to “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.” I guess the words are somewhat similar, although I prefer the original. The point being that life is full of tests and trials, some of which come about through our own fault and some through the actions of others or just through bad luck, accident or disaster. How we deal with them is what matters. This brings me to my second point about this scripture. When presented with a trial, Jesus turned to his Father, praying for strength to accept the test if it be his Father’s will. The scripture goes on to say, “And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him”. Tests and trials come often in life and cannot be avoided, but with the grace of God, they can be gotten through. In the end Jesus was rewarded for his fortitude. So too will we be rewarded.