Grace Baptist Church, Nokomis, IL.

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Prayer is perhaps the greatest source of strength that Christians do not take full advantage of. Of course, it’s not prayer itself, but rather the dependance upon God through prayer. God changes us and guides us through prayer. No great revival has ever occurred apart from prayer.

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him.” (John 18:1-12)

Although “prayer” is not mentioned in this passage, we should not miss when Jesus prayed in it. There is a story between verse 1 and 2 that is not told in John. But it is told in all of the other three gospels. We see Jesus pour Himself out into prayer especially in the book of Luke (Luke 22:39-46). Jesus was honest in prayer, but humbly accepted the Father’s will over His own. When’s the last time you struggled like that in prayer? This kind of prayer gives us strength for today.

But we should not miss that the passage in John does refer to another of Christ’s prayers when it refers to after Jesus had spoke “these things.” While in the Upper Room breaking bread with His disciples, he taught them and He prayed with them in chapter 17. What was the content of His prayer?

1.For His disciples, and for us, those who would believe in Him.
2.For the Son of God to be glorified in what was about to happen.

Why didn’t John include the prayer in Gethsemane? Possibly because it interrupted the flow of Christ’s bold confidence. More likely because John noticed in Christ’s prayer an “It is finished” mindset. Jesus was not forced by men to go to the cross. He gave Himself up. He nearly had to handcuff Himself for them. He rebuked Peter for trying to keep Him for being arrested.

Jesus followed God’s will despite the personal suffering He would endure. It was a rhetorical question. Of course He should drink the cup! Jesus courageously accepted what would happen to Him next. The Holy Spirit often prompts us to something difficult, and we should eagerly drink that cup.

All of this means at least two things for us.

1.We cannot serve God except by a reliance upon Him in prayer. We must pray for strength. We must listen for Him to guide us.
2.We must not shy away from being bold in our witness for Jesus Christ, because that is the cup that we must all eagerly drink from.