Alone In Darkness

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” 42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. 44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!” (Matthew 26:36–46 NLT)

Jesus was all alone in the darkest moments and the hardest decision of his life! He asked his friends to sit with him as he agonized in prayer and they fell asleep—not once, but three times! Jesus prayed to God, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Jesus prayed the prayer—not once, but three times. His father didn’t take away the cup!

Jesus didn’t get mad at his friends. He didn’t get mad at his Father. Jesus knew that sometimes things are the way they are because that’s the way they have to be. It’s not, “Whose fault is it?”  It’s not, “If only I hadn’t… If only they hadn’t… If only I could…!” It’s not, “What could I have done to prevent this…to have chosen a different course…” It’s, “This is how it is because this is how it’s got to be!”

Jesus understands “alone” and Jesus understands an unanswered prayer. In fact, Jesus understands the hardest and “alonest” things we go through, and he will be with us through them if we’ll ask him. After all, he went through it for us!

Prayer:

Father, Thank you for letting your Son be all alone for us! Jesus, thank you for your willingness to be alone in your darkest moment so we don’t have to be alone! Amen!