Matthew 26:42-46 42Again, for the second time, after going away he prayed, saying, “My Father, since this cannot pass unless I drink it, let your will be done.” 43And coming again he found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44And leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same word again. 45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and rest in the future. Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us be going; look, my betrayer has come near.”
Jesus’ second prayer is slightly but significantly different than his first prayer. The first prayer was more open-ended and asks if the cup could be taken away from Jesus. The Greek word ei can be translated as an unfulfilled condition with the word “if” in English. It can also be translated as the supposed condition cannot be met with the English “since.” Jesus’ second prayer has this second sense. He had concluded through his first prayer that the Father’s will was for him to drink the cup of suffering.
The second prayer is more of a commitment to follow through in perfect obedience. The demonstrative pronoun this in verse 42 refers back to the “cup” of verse 39. Jesus was firm in his decision by the second prayer that the cup could not be removed, and he needed to go to the cross. The cup represented more than his physical death on a Roman cross. This cup held the sins of the world and the source of redemption. He had come to die to save the world, and so he was firm in his decision. He had overcome any temptation of the flesh to take the easy way. He sent a pattern for Peter, the other disciples, and for us. His last statement in verse 42 indicates the decision of his spirit that he would do the Father’s will and not give in to his weakened flesh. The poor disciples, however, could not overcome their weakened flesh because they failed to watch and pray. Was Jesus super-human and somehow invulnerable to fatigue? No, he was just as or more exhausted than the disciples but had learned to tap into the source of strength by seeking the help of his heavenly Father.
Matthew does not give any words of Jesus third prayer, only that that they were similar. The sequence of the first two prayers suggests that third prayer could have been preparatory for what was about to happen. Jesus was already firm in his decision and now was praying in the will of the Father. Meanwhile, Judas and the guards were quickly approaching. The time for sleeping had passed. The disciples would not face the greatest trial of their lives–and also the greatest disappointment. There would be a time for sleep and rest later on. Jesus does not mince words with how he describes those who would arrest and try him. They are sinners who were fighting the conviction of the Holy Spirit and were pursuing their selfish agenda to keep their power and positions. Judas was a pawn in this greater conflict and had given in to his own temptation of the flesh. Jesus was prepared to rise and go, but the disciples were not. The best preparation for times of trial is to watch and pray.
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