Matthew 26:31-56

About the Text

(32) What did Jesus mean by "I will go ahead of you into Galilee?" That for a little while the disciples will be discouraged and will all scatter. Then after Jesus had risen, He would assemble them again, leading them in the region of Galilee (about 70 miles north of where this story takes place). Jesus knew everything: not only that they would fall away, but also the exact location and time of their next meeting. See John 21:1-14 for the account of when Jesus met them in Galilee after His rising from the dead.

(33) Could true Christians today ever disown Christ like Peter did? Yes and no. Yes, because Christians still retain a remnant of sinful nature, their commitment to Christ is never perfect. For example, Jesus worked a miracle through the faith of a father, yet the father rightly recognized that his faith was not perfect: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24). Remember also 1 John 1:8, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." But the answer is also "no," because a true Christian has the power of the Holy Spirit and therefore is able to commit himself to Christ more than without the Holy Spirit. This is why Peter's commitment in this story was very weak, yet after the Holy Spirit came upon him (and all Christians) he was able to preach boldly about Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 2).

(36) Where and what is "Gethsemane"? John 18:1 says that it was a garden. Since the name comes from an Aramiac (the common language of the Jews in that day) root word meaning "oil press," and since the garden was located on the Mount of Olives, we can assume that the garden was filled with olive trees.

(37) What does it mean that Jesus was "sorrowful"? He was full of pain. More precisely, the original Greek word means to be dreadful, restless, and full of pain because of trouble that cannot be escaped.

(38) If Jesus was God, then why was He so troubled, even to the point of praying to escape it? Because of His human nature. Not only was He 100% God, but He was also 100% man, meaning that he would feel both the physical pain of the crucifixion, as well as the emotional and mental anguish of imminent death. He did not sin, however, and thus He remained obedient to His calling and prayed, "Yet not as I will, but as you will."

(40) Why were the disciples so sleepy? Luke 22:45 says that they were "exhausted from sorrow."

(41) What was so wrong about the disciples' sleeping? They were making themselves vulnerable to the temptation of the moment by being idle. In other words, by sleeping, the disciples let their guard down at the very time when Jesus was in greatest danger. In fact, perhaps out of inattention, Peter impulsively attacked Jesus' opponent and cut off his ear (see verse 51). He fell into sin, perhaps because he was too idle the hour before. Jesus says that to resist temptation, two things must be done. First, the believer must remove his idleness and inattention. Second, he must pray, depending on God for the strength to resist temptation.

(49) Why did Judas choose a kiss as the secret signal? Because Judas continued trying to deceive Jesus and the other disciples, by making them think he was one of the faithful.

Insights

• Left to our own efforts, we are unable to fully commit ourselves to Jesus Christ, even though we promise to be committed.
• Jesus Christ loved us so much, that He obeyed His calling, even though He dreaded death and was abandoned by His friends.
  

The Bottom Line

Put your trust in Christ alone, not in any other person, organization, religious figure, hero, or leader.

Key Memory Verse

"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39)