Focal Text: Mark 14:35 & 36
Text: Matthew 26:30, 36-46, Mark 14:26, 32-42, Luke 22:39-46, John18:1
Washes
What is the "Cup" that is referred to in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Y'ehoshua (Jesus) said, "Take this cup away from Me" and what can we learn from His example?
Mark 14:35 & 36 "And He Y'ehoshua (Jesus) went forward a little, and fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto (for) You; TAKE AWAY THIS CUP FROM ME; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."
Let us begin with some background. We are in Jerusalem on a Thursday afternoon. It is a day of preparation for the Pascal (Passover) meal. When you see the word "Pascal", it means "of or connected with the Passover". This is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb is customarily sacrificed.
Y'ehoshua (Jesus) sends two of His disciples, Peter and John, saying "Go and make ready for us the Passover, that we may eat." and they say to Him "Where do You want us to go and make preparations that You may eat the Passover?" And Y'ehoshua says to them "Behold, when you are entered into the city, there shall you meet a man bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he shall enter in. And you shall say to the goodman of the house, "The Teacher says: "My time is at hand; where is the guest-chamber, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"" and he will himself show you a large upper room readily furnished: there make ready for us."
The disciples went forth and came into the city and did as Y'ehoshua appointed them; and found as He said to them: and they made ready the Passover.
It is now Thursday evening after sunset, the beginning of the Jewish Friday. Now when evening comes, Y'ehoshua arrives with the twelve disciples.
At the appropriate time He is reclining with the twelve at the table. He says to them" With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: for I say to you, I will not eat it, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God."
Y'ehoshua partakes of the Pascal meal with the twelve apostles and rebukes their jealousy. During the Pascal meal, Y'ehoshua washes the feet of His disciples. Also, at the Pascal meal, Y'ehoshua points out Judas as the betrayer. After the departure of Judas, Y'ehoshua warns the disciples (Peter in particular) against desertion, while all protest their loyalty.
Y'ehoshua then institutes the memorial of eating bread and drinking the fruit of the vine (Luke 22:18). This, we have come to call "The Lord's Supper". It is during this time, I believe, that The Lord gives His farewell discourse to His disciples, as recorded in John 14.
Then in John 14:31, in the latter part of the verse, we read "Let us go from here." So then, in Chapter 15, we have the discourse on the way to Gethsemane, possibly on the street as they walk. Here He speaks of the fact that He is the true vine, and His Father is the husbandman.
In chapter 16 of John, and the first verse, Y'ehoshua says, "These things have I spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble." In verse 7, He says, "...I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you."
Possibly near Gethsemane, Y'ehoshua prays His intercessory prayer that is recorded in John chapter 17. Chapter 18, verse 1, carries on to say: "When Y'ehoshua had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the brook Kidron, where was a garden, into the which He entered, Himself and His disciples. Luke tells us this was His (Y'ehoshua's) custom.
It is quite possible, that many an evening was spent having supper together, Y'ehoshua and His disciples. During and after supper, Y'ehoshua would tell them a parable and teach them the things of the kingdom of God, and finish the evening praying on the Mount of Olives.
You can imagine it is getting late in the night. Here in Mark 14:26, we read"And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the Mount of Olives". Going on to verse 32, we continue," And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and He said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray." Verse 33, "And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be grieved (greatly troubled) and deeply distressed". The majority of the disciples remained close to the entrance of the garden while Y'ehoshua took Peter, James, and John farther in with Him.
Now look, if you will, at verse 34, "Then He said to them "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, (even) unto death. Stay here and watch." Here the soul: the will, the emotions, and the mind of Y'ehoshua Christ are full of sorrow and greatly distressed. Here the humanity of Y'ehoshua Christ comes to grips with the prospect and the reality of the impending suffering of the cross and more importantly the separation from God.
In Psalms 42:6, The Psalmist records: "O my God, my soul is cast down within me;" Have you ever felt the void, the empty feeling of being separated from God? For the Christian to be separated, that is, out of fellowship with God, is indeed an exceeding sorrowful and deeply distressing time.
Now we come to our focal text. In Mark 14:35 and 36, the Bible says, "And He (Y'ehoshua) went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, (NOW HERE IS THE MEANING OF THE CUP!) The HOUR might pass from Him. Verse 36, And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto (for) You. Take away THIS cup from Me; nevertheless not what I will, but what you will."
Y'ehoshua went a little farther into the garden, farther than Peter, James, and John. Luke tells us that it was about a stone's throw. Y'ehoshua then kneeled down, fell on His face on the ground and prayed that the HOUR might pass from Him. And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto (for) You. Take away THIS cup from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will. This was the first time He prayed in the garden that night. The first time He prayed that if it were possible, The HOUR might pass from Him.
Y'ehoshua was praying in the present tense. He said "Take THIS cup away from Me. Y'ehoshua was NOT praying that the "cup" of the cross be taken away from Him. That "cup" was in the future! He did NOT pray "take THAT cup away from me". As we heard earlier, in John, chapter 16, verse 7..., let us look at that. John 16:7, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I go not away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you". Y'ehoshua had just told His disciples on the way to the garden that it was to their advantage that He goes away.
Y'ehoshua was prewritten in Daniel 9:26, "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off... (suffer the death penalty)". Y'ehoshua had just confirmed this at the Pascal meal. Let us look at Matthew 26:24. Matthew 26:24, the first part of the verse, "The Son of Man indeed goes as it is written of Him..." Y'ehoshua's death was prophesied in Psalms 22:14. Then in verse 16 of that same chapter, Psalms 22:16, it was prophesied that He would be pierced. Psalms 129:3 prophesied that His back would be plowed. 1 Peter 1:20, says that Y'ehoshua was indeed foreordained before the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8 says that Y'ehoshua is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.
Y'ehoshua prayed that the hour of His grief (great trouble), and deep distress: His exceeding sorrow would pass from Him. Y'ehoshua prayed "Take this cup away from Me." The "cup" in the garden of Gethsemane was a time of grief (great trouble); and deep distress; exceeding sorrow. Y'ehoshua prayed that the "cup" of exceeding sorrow would pass from Him, yet He prayed to The Father, "not what I will, but what You (will).
Then Luke fills in what happened between verses 36 and 42 of Mark chapter 14. Let us look at Luke 22:43 and 44. Luke 22:43 and 44. Verse 43, "Then an Angel appeared to Him from Heaven, strengthening Him." Verse 44, "And being in agony. He prayed more earnestly. Only Luke records an Angel appeared to Y'ehoshua and strengthens Him.
Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground". The Bible does not say that Y'ehoshua's sweat became great drops of blood, but rather that they became LIKE great drops of blood. This is a medical condition called "hemathidrosis", and is referred to as "bloody sweat". Under extreme stress, the capillaries lining the sweat glands may burst producing this condition. Y'ehoshua's blood and sweat mingled together and produced as it were great drops of blood.
Y'ehoshua returned from praying the fist time, to find the disciples asleep. He asked Peter "Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?" In Matthew 26:40, it is recorded that Y'ehoshua asked "What? Could you not watch with -Me- one hour? Y'ehoshua made the situation very personal by saying "Could -YOU- not watch with -ME- one hour?
Y'ehoshua then further instructs His disciples to "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation." Y'ehoshua is saying "Watch that you stay awake, and pray constantly so that you may not enter into temptation."
Then, in the last part of this verse, Y'ehoshua says, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh (is) weak "The word "flesh" here refers to the soul of a person, the will, emotions and mind.
Let us continue on in Mark 14. Mark 14, verse 37, "Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?" Verse 38, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh (is) weak." Verse 39, "Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words." Matthew 26:42, records Y'ehoshua's words this way," O My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, your will be done." Let's continue here in Matthew chapter 26 and verse 43. And He (Y'ehoshua) came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. Verse 44, And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same words. Verse 45, Then came He (this is the third time) and said to them (His disciples) "Sleep on now, and take your rest: (it is enough; ) behold the hour is at hand (come; behold,) and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Verse 46, "Arise, Let us be going: behold he is at hand that betrays Me.
And you know what happens next. Y'ehoshua is betrayed, arrested, and forsaken. There is then a trail, crucifixion, and burial. But, the story doesn't end there! Y'ehoshua is resurrected, makes appearances and ascends into heaven. And the Bible tells us that one-day He will return to take us to Heaven, and so shall we ever be with the Lord!
What can we learn from Y'ehoshua's example in the garden?
First, We are to pray. As we have seen in these verses, Y'ehoshua instructed His disciples in Matthew 26:41," watch and pray that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Y'ehoshua began the teaching of the Parable of the Persistent widow by saying in Luke 18:1, and the latter part of the verse, "... men always ought to pray and not lose heart," In the Old Testament book of First Chronicles, chapter 16 and verse 11, David in his psalms thanking the Lord said "seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually." The apostle Paul tells us in First Thessalonians 5:17, "pray without ceasing,"
Secondly, We are to pray for God's will. Y'ehoshua prayed in Matthew 26:42, and the latter part of the verse, "...your will be done." Y'ehoshua taught us to pray for God's will in the model prayer that He taught to the disciples in Matthew 6:10, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven" In Psalms 143, David prays for God's guidance and support, and in verse 10 he says "Teach me to do your will; for You are my God: Your Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Third, We may become grieved: greatly troubled: exceeding sorrowful unto death and deeply distressed prior to, during, or after prayer. Matthew 26:33 tells us that Y'ehoshua began to be grieved (greatly troubled) and deeply distressed: exceeding sorrowful unto death. We may pray for the cup or time of grief (great trouble), and deep distress: exceeding sorrow to pass from us. God may send an angel to strengthen us. Psalms 43:5 tells us He will give His angels charge over us. The Bible says in Psalms 30:5 and the latter part of the verse... weeping may endure for a night, but a (shout of) joy comes in the morning!
Question Regarding This Teaching:
1. What is the "cup" that Y'ehoshua refers to in the garden of Gethsemane?
Answer: The "cup" that Y'ehoshua refers to in the garden of Gethsemane was the hour (time) of his suffering while he was there. In Mark 14:35 and 36, the Bible says, "He (Y'ehoshua) went a little farther, and fell on the ground and prayed (NOW HERE IS THE MEANING OF THE CUP!) that if it was possible, the HOUR might pass from Him. Verse 36, And He said, "Abba Father, all things (are) possible for You. Take THIS cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what you (will)."
2. How many times did Y'ehoshua pray that the Father would take the cup away from him?
Answer: According to text that we have, it would appear that Y'ehoshua prayed three times that the Father would take the cup away from him.
3. What are three things that we can learn from this teaching?
Answer: 1. We are to Pray. 2. We are to pray for God's will. 3. We may become grieved prior to, during or even after prayer.
4. Was (Is) there ever a time that Y'ehoshua did not do the will of the father?
Answer: No: John 5:30 "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."
5. Did (does) God hear the prayer (s) of Y'ehoshua?
Answer: Yes: John 11:42 (Y'ehoshua speaking here) "And I knew that you hear me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that you have sent me. 1John 5:14 "And this is the confidence that we have in him that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us:"
6. Did (does) God give the petition that Y'ehoshua desired of him
Answer: Yes: 1John 5:15 "And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."
7. Did God answer Y'ehoshua's Prayer in the garden?
Answer: Yes: Luke 22:42-43 records "(Y'ehoshua) Saying, Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but your will be done. (verse 43, Y'ehoshua's answer from God) And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
8. Is it important that we understand what the "cup" in the garden was? If so, why?
Answer: It is important that we understand what the "cup" was in the garden because of the afore mentioned answers and because it helps to expose the error of teaching that it was something else. When someone teaches that the cup was something other than the hour of suffering, such as the humanity overcoming the deity of Y'ehoshua, they teach falsely.
If You know what the "cup" truly is, You gain a better understanding of the life of Y'ehoshua Christ and His relationship to His Father.
This teaching is the greatest example of overcoming the soul in times of sorrow and grief. When we experience sorrow, we can know from Y'ehoshua's example that we are to "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh (is) weak.". "Flesh" in this example is the will, emotions and mind.
If we do not "pray without ceasing", we can enter in temptation!
Take Away This Cup From Me - The Cup in the Garden
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