The Commands of Christ - Matthew 26:36-43

"Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done." And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand." -Matthew 26:36-46

To whom are these commands spoken?

The first command is spoken to the disciples. I believe that Judas is not present here because a little later in the chapter, Judas comes with the great multitude to arrest Jesus. The second and third commands are spoken to Peter and James and John. The fourth is spoken to all the disciples.

What do these commands require?

Sit here while I go and pray over there. (for all the disciples)

Stay here and watch with Me. (for Peter, James, and John)

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation (for Peter, James, and John)

Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand. (for all the disciples)

What truths do we learn from these commands?

There is much to be learned here. The time of Jesus betrayal is soon coming, and Jesus brings His disciples to Gethsemane to pray. To the rest of the disciples He commanded them to sit and pray, then He took Peter, James, and John (His 'inner three' disciples) further into the garden to pray. Jesus was exceedingly sorrowful at this time. He was agonizing over His forthcoming death. He commanded these three disciples to 'watch' with Him.

Jesus goes a little further into the garden by Himself to pray. He then falls on His face and cries out to the Lord, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." After this prayer, Jesus returns to find the three disciples sleeping. They couldn't stay awake. Perhaps they didn't fully understand the gravity of the situation Jesus was facing. Perhaps they were just too tired. Perhaps they didn't understand what Jesus meant by 'watch with Me.' So Jesus commands them again to watch but this time He adds to the command and says, 'Watch and pray.'

Again Jesus goes away and prays to His Father and again He returns to find the disciples sleeping. This time He didn't wake them up and He didn't give them another command. So Jesus went and prayed again by Himself. After this third session of prayer, Jesus returns and wakes up the disciples. One final command is given them, "Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand."

What are the consequences for disobedience?

The disciples failed to obey Jesus here. He commanded them to pray and they slept instead. They failed to understand what was really going on. They failed to pray.