Let This Cup Pass From Me - Matthew 26:39

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus came, “unto a place called Gethsemane, and said unto the disciples, Sit you here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then said he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry you here, and watch with me”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse thirty-nine of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus, “went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed … let this cup pass from me” where we read:

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.

The verse reads, “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, ...” Matthew began words, “and he went” which means “and Jesus left and departed” “a little further” or “a small distance in advance of where Peter, James and John were seated”, “and fell” which means “and was thrust and cast down” “on his face” or “upon Jesus' forward part of His head to the ground”, “and prayed” which means “and offered prayers, worship and supplication”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”. Matthew shared how Jesus left the three disciples, fell on the ground with His face against it, and began to “pray” to God.

The verse continues, “... O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew added the words, “O my Father” which refers to “Jesus' Heavenly Father who is God”, “if it be possible” or “whether there is an opportunity, occasion or capability”, “let this cup” which means “allow and permit this drinking vessel or divine appointment” “pass from me” or “pass by or over Jesus”: “nevertheless” which means “moreover, besides and notwithstanding” “not as I will” or “not as Jesus resolved, determined, purposed, desired or wished”, “but as you will” which means “nevertheless, not withstanding and rather in the manner that God the Father resolved, determined, purposed, desired or wished”. Matthew shared how Jesus began to pray by asking God His Father whether there was any way for Him to escape the Divine appointment set before Him, and He resigned “His will” to “God's”.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we begin to see Jesus' anguish in the “garden of Gethsemane”. He knew what lie ahead of Him, and His question to God His Father was whether there was any other way for the “salvation” of man to occur. God loves everyone, and He proved His love by allowing His Son Jesus to go through the “only way” for people to be saved. If there was any other way “possible”, Jesus would not have to drink from the “cup” of sorrow He bore. Jesus knew His Father God's way was the intended one, and He resigned His will to His “Father's” so every person may have an opportunity to receive Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus came, “unto the disciples, and finds them asleep”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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