JESUS’ PRAYER AND VICTORY

Matthew 26:31-75

Key Verse: 26:39

“Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’”

What did Jesus say to his disciples, based on the Scriptures? (31; Zec. 13:7)  Why did he talk about this?  What hope did he give them? (32)  What was Peter’s confidence? (33-35) 

Mat. 26:31 reads, “Then Jesus told them, ‘This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’”

Zec. 13:7 reads, “‘Awake, O sword, against My shepherd, against the man who is close to Me!’ declares the LORD Almighty.  ‘Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.’”

Jesus told them they would fall away on account of Jesus.

Interestingly, Jesus told the disciples the prediction of their failure.  He told them they would all fall away.  This reveals that Jesus did not ‘gamble’; He was not caught unaware or surprised by their failure.  Jesus knew their failure, but still He took up the cross, because He loved them and is bigger than their failure.

Jesus did not want them to be unprepared for what was going to happen.  Jesus was concerned for them.  He did not want their faith to fail them.  He knew that what was going to happen to them was going to be a blow against their faith.

There is a good question.  Why did Jesus not just allow His disciples to go through their failure without telling them?

Jesus shared with them based on the Scriptures, so they too would base their actions and decisions on the Scriptures and not on their own emotions or circumstances.

Luke 22:31-33 reads, “‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’  But he replied, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.’”

Mat. 26:32 reads, “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Jesus encouraged and helped them by telling them that He would return and ‘go ahead’ of them.

Mat. 26:33-35 read, “Peter replied, ‘Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.’  ‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.’  But Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the other disciples said the same.”

Peter believed that he would not disown Jesus.  He meant what he said, but it was based on his human loyalty and emotion.  Peter did not accept the Word of God given to Him by Jesus.  He honored His own idea and opinion more than the Word of God.

In the Garden of Gethsemane why did Jesus tell his disciples what was on his heart? (36-38)  What did he pray repeatedly? (39, 42, 44)   Why?  What can we learn from Jesus? 

Mat. 26:36-38 read, “Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then He said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with Me.’”

Mat. 26:39 reads, “Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me.  Yet not as I will, but as You will.’”

Mat. 26:42 reads, “He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done.’”

Mat. 26:44 reads, “So He left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.”

So that they would keep watch with Jesus.  This reveals Jesus’ humanity.  This is the first time that Jesus shared or showed such emotion.  He wept when He overlooked Jerusalem, but this was different.

Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow and troubled.  Strangely, when the storm was raging, Jesus slept; He was not afraid of drowning.  Jesus’ trouble was not because He was about to die, it was something much different than this.

Jesus wanted to live, but most of all He did not want to be cut off from the love of God.

Jesus prayed three times that if it was possible to take the cup away, that Jesus wanted that, but even more Jesus wanted to carry out God’s will and not His own.

Interestingly, Jesus’ solution was to pray to the very One whom He was going to be separated from.  This reveals His full trust in God’s goodness and love.

How could He trust God from whom He was going to be separated from?

Jesus was going to receive the full wrath and anger of God toward Himself; God would not listen to His prayer, so why pray?

II Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Jesus was helping His disciples to know how to fight the spiritual battle, together in prayer.  Mat. 18:19-20 reads, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them.”

Jesus was helping them to trust in the goodness and faithfulness and love of God the Father.

What were the disciples doing while Jesus was praying?  Why? (40, 43)  Why did Jesus tell his disciples to pray? (41)  How was Jesus after prayer? (45-46) 

Mat. 26:40 reads, “Then he returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?’ He asked Peter.”

Mat. 26:43 reads, “When He came back, He again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.”

Mat. 26:41 reads, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Mat. 26:45-46 read, “Then He returned to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting?  Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Rise, let us go!  Here comes My betrayer!’”

The disciples were sleeping.  Their eyes were heavy.  Basically, their bodies were weak, even though their spirit may have been willing.

Depression causes us to often be paralyzed.

Without prayer, we fall into temptation.  Without prayer we cannot overcome temptation.  Prayer strengthens us.  God gives us strength.

There are times to sleep and then there are times to pray.  Jesus slept on the boat even though there was a storm raging.  While all His disciples were afraid of drowning, Jesus slept peacefully.  Strangely, it was at this time that the disciples ‘cried out’ to Jesus, “Save us, we are going to drown!”  For Jesus this was not the time to pray.  He was not afraid of death or of dying.  But this time was the time to pray, because of the temptation to refuse the cup the Father had for Him.

This was the most critical time for Jesus.  The decision Jesus had to make was the most critical.  This one decision, ‘whether to take the cup the Father had for Him or to refuse it’, was going to be sealed at this time.  This was why Jesus prayed at this moment over this matter and why He was troubled.

Jesus prayed 3 times the same prayer topic.  The first time was not enough, nor the 2^nd.  The 3^rd time Jesus was able to settle the matter and receive God’s strength and the courage to overcome His own desire and will.

Jesus was now ready to ‘drink the cup’ the Father had waiting for Him.  Jesus was strengthened to follow the will of God.  But through prayer Jesus cemented God’s love for Himself despite this situation He found Himself in.  Even though Jesus did not want to drink the cup, He did not doubt the love of God toward Him.

At times our will and God’s will do not always match and we need to pray to receive God’s strength to follow the will of God and not our own human will.

Who did Judas bring with him to capture Jesus? (47-49, 55)  What was his signal?  When Jesus was arrested, why did one of the disciples wield the sword?  Why did Jesus stop him? (50-54)  What did the disciples do at the time of trial? (56) 

Mat. 26:47-49 read, “While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived.  With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.  Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the Man; arrest Him.’  Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed Him.”

Mat. 26:55 reads, “At that time Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture Me?  Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest Me.’”

A large crowd came with Judas armed with swords and clubs.

Interestingly, none of the actual plotters came; only their surrogates whom they hired to do their dirty work came.  They all remained in the palace of the high priest, Caiaphas.  

Mat. 26:50-54 read, “Jesus replied, ‘Friend, do what you came for.’  Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.  With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.  ‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.  Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?  But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?’”

Mat. 26:56 reads, “‘But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.”

Judas came and kissed Jesus.  Jesus allowed him to kiss Him.  Jesus even called Judas ‘friend’, even though Judas was about to betray Him.  Jesus overcame this painful betrayal, with God’s infinite love.

The disciple with the sword (Peter) was trying to fight off the will of God, using his human strength and power.

Peter was once again behaving like satan, hindering the will of God.

It had to happen this way so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.  To Jesus this was the most important thing.  Scripture would be fulfilled and anyone who tried to fight or resist against it would instead be crushed.

Jesus said those who draw the sword, would die by the sword.  Jesus stopped Peter from shedding unnecessary blood.  Jesus came to shed His own blood so that no more blood would have to be shed.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  By His wounds we have been healed.

Interestingly, right now we are fighting a spiritual battle against terror in the name of Islam, using Predator spy aircraft and Apache helicopters and hundreds of thousands of troops on the ground in Afghanistan, when we should be praying and sending missionaries, then we can truly win the spiritual battle against the devil.  But if we continue to fight this spiritual battle with the ‘sword’ our nation will be destroyed by the sword.

Jesus wanted His disciples to submit themselves to God’s will for their own good.

They all deserted Jesus and fled; just as the Scriptures foretold.  They did not learn the importance of prayer so that they could be strengthened and stand firm to the end.

When Jesus was taken to the high priest, why did Peter follow him at a distance? (57-58)  Why did Jesus remain silent? (59-63a)  How did he declare his identity?  What happened to him as a result? (63b-68) 

Mat. 26:57-58 read, “Those who had arrested Jesus took Him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.  But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest.  He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.”

Mat. 26:59-63a read, “The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put Him to death.  But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.  Finally two came forward and declared, ‘This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer?  What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’  But Jesus remained silent.”

Mat. 26:63b-68 read, “The high priest said to Him, ‘I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.’  ‘Yes, it is as you say,’ Jesus replied.  ‘But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of Heaven.’  Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has spoken blasphemy!  Why do we need any more witnesses?  Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.  What do you think?’  ‘He is worthy of death,’ they answered.  Then they spit in His face and struck Him with their fists.  Others slapped Him and said, ‘Prophesy to us, Christ.  Who hit you?’”

Peter loved Jesus and tried to remain faithful to Jesus, even though he did so at a safe distance.  He was fooling himself thinking that he would remain faithful to Jesus because he followed him from a distance, but it did not.  He had already lost the spiritual battle.  Fear had already overtaken him.  He followed at a distance because of his fear of being seen or caught.

There was nothing to argue about.  The decision was already made that Jesus was guilty (as had been foretold in Scripture).  There was no reason to say anything.  To do so, would have been no different than using the sword to fight off the captors; the only effect would have been to ‘cut off the ear’ of someone, but it would have done nothing otherwise.  Jesus did not come to protect Himself, He already won the victory and ‘batting away’ false charges would not have done anything.

Jesus didn’t reply until they requested Him to tell them, “Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”  Then Jesus spoke and told them the truth, in the hope that they would repent and listen.  Prior to this there was no reason to say anything.  He also told them that in the future He would come back in power and glory; that He had already won the victory even though it appeared that they had Him where they wanted Him.

Jesus told them the truth even though it would agitate the religious leaders and they would demand His death because of blasphemy.  His answer also brought down spitting and hitting from these religious leaders.  

What happened to Peter in the courtyard?  How did he disown Jesus? (69-74)  Why did he weep bitterly? (75)

Mat. 26:69-74 read, “Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him.  ‘You also were with Jesus of Galilee,’ she said.  But he denied it before them all. ‘I don't know what you're talking about,’ he said.  Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, ‘This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.’  He denied it again, with an oath: ‘I don't know the man!’  After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, ‘Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.’   Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, ‘I don't know the man!’  Immediately a rooster crowed.”

Mat. 26:75 reads, “Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.’  And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

He was confronted by a servant girl, who stated that he was with Jesus.  Peter was ripe for attack and the devil attacked him.

The young girl was the ‘time’ when his temptation to deny Jesus came to Peter.  This was the ‘time’ Peter had to face the temptation to deny Jesus or to boldly acknowledge Jesus.  But Peter was not prepared to overcome himself, he trusted on his own human loyalty and confidence, but it was not enough.  His fear overcame him and he denied Jesus not once, but three times.  His resolve ‘melted’ away.  Even though he loved Jesus, but he could not remain faithful to Jesus with his own strength.  He needed God’s strength and power through prayer.  He needed the Holy Spirit to give him strength to overcome himself.

Peter denied that he knew Jesus three times.

Because he failed and betrayed Jesus even though he loved Jesus.  Peter realized that he had been proud, rebellious, unprayerful and unspiritual.  They were tears of real repentance. Peter could repent when he remembered Jesus’ words. In the spiritual battle, those who fail to pray.

There is a big difference between Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s.  Judas sold Jesus for 30 silver coins, saying, “What will you give me?”  But Peter betrayed Jesus because he relied and trusted in himself.  Peter did not know how weak he truly was and how strong fear and temptation truly are.  Jesus showed Peter the example, when Jesus also submitted Himself to prayer to overcome His own moral dilemma, whether to take the cup or refuse it.