The Lesson in Gethsemane

 

Mathew 26

This is known as the ‘plot to kill Jesus’ chapter. The high priest Caiaphas launches a plan to arrest Him after the Passover celebration but waits until after the feast, afraid of an uproar among the people. I think the section on Gethsemane is critical for understanding how failure is instructive for leaders. Jesus teaches the disciples (especially Peter, James and John) the importance of responsibility and how to beat temptation.

“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” (verse 36-38)

We normally think of this as the failure of Jesus’ support system. You know, they couldn’t stay up and pray with their Master. Their faith didn’t quite overcome sleep; they didn’t have the fire in the belly. It looks at times like Jesus is scolding them for dozing off and not understanding the significance of the moment. It’s true of course, but overlooks the heaviness Christ felt knowing what kind of pain awaited him. He is the only one who really could have felt this way. Responsibility, whether for others or yourself, imposes a weight that only responsible parties can feel. It’s nice to imagine that others have your back through tough moments in life. Some do, but no one can share the burden with you.

Jesus isn’t finger waging their laziness as much as making them understand that this position of responsibility will soon be theirs. It’s important that they understand how to navigate it.

Since Jesus was “exceedingly sorrowful” He sought support from his disciples. He must have known how little they could do for Him. I think He was giving them an option to avoid the coming betrayal. Jesus had already told them “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” But it feels like this scattering could have been avoided had they prayed with the Savior and avoided temptation. 

But they were scattered and instead, taught from experience what not to do.

Jesus found Peter sleeping and said “What! Could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.” (verse 41). By pulling Peter and the two sons of Zebedee away to follow Him to a quiet place, He hoped to show them how to avoid temptation through prayer. This night probably stuck in their heads as a critical lesson in responsibility. Temptation in this case is for sleep, but can mean a lot of things. It’s rooted in fleshly desires and although not all are destructive, they occupy a critical place at a critical time. It’s a time when our focus should be on Him for inspiration, for direction.

This is a message for leaders. Jesus is teaching these future leaders through their mistakes, what responsibility looks like.

The final time Jesus comes back and finds them all still sleeping. “Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.” (verse 45) the phrase “Are you STILL sleeping and resting” must have stung after they replayed it in their minds. Letting others down leaves us with a sick, empty feeling. We had a job to do and we failed.  

Jesus already knew their flesh was weak. Through their failure they learned what responsibility is all about. Through their weakness they learned the importance of focused prayer in pushing back temptation. The first church of Acts is where this lesson pays off.