Final Hours: Betrayal Matthew 26:36-46
• Matthew 26: 36 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.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
• The Emotions of Jesus.
• 1 Peter 2:24 - 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed
• Matthew 27:46 “…My God, my God, Why have you forsaken me.”
• My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.
• Matthew 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.”
• 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 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.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
• “…if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me…”
• Matthew 26:27-28 – They he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ”Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant , which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
• The Struggle of Jesus.
• “Yet not as I will, but as you will
• “My father…”
• You will not learn to trust God until you trust God.
• “Heavenly Father, show me where you are work
• “In this prayer, Jesus is fighting for obedience.” – Dale Bruner.
• “If it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done”
• Watch and pray so you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak
• I can’t; you can. I will let you.
• Matthew 26: 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
• The courage of Jesus.
• John Calvin: “He has found new reserves …”
• “…the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.”
Starter Question: When you hear the word “Surrender,” what comes to mind?
1. Read Matthew 26: 36-38
2. Have you ever felt overwhelmed with sorrow? What does it mean to you that Jesus felt the same way?
3. Jesus wanted his disciples to keep watch with him, to pray with him. What do you think it means to be with Jesus in prayer?
4. Read Matthew 26:39-44
5. In your opinion, why was it not possible to for the cup to pass from Jesus? What do other scriptures tell us?
6. How does it make you feel to know that Jesus also struggled to obey?
7. Read Matthew 26:45-46
8. Why do you think Jesus’ feeling shift from struggle to courage? Have you had a similar experience?
9. How would you describe the courage needed to completely surrender to God’s will?
