We read that in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed: “My FFather, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Jesus went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:39-42)
What is the Cup Jesus is Referring To?
Jesus refers to his sufferings as a cup. John Gill's Bible Commentary explains "let this cup pass from me" meaning "not only the hour, as it is called in Mark, the present season and time of distress, and horror; but all his future sufferings and death, which were at hand; together with the bearing the sins of his people, the enduring the curse of the law, and the wrath of God, all which were ingredients in, and made up this dreadful bitter cup, this cup of fury, cursing, and trembling; called a cup... and when he prays that this cup might pass from him, his meaning is, that he might be freed from the present horrors of his mind, be excused the sufferings of death, and be delivered from the curse of the law, and wrath of God".
Our God graciously included a great many directions for us that He gave us through His own example. From the Sabbath rest to taking up His cross of sacrifice, our God has shown us how to live through example.
Jesus’ moments in the Garden of Gethsemane show us the intimate emotional and spiritual process Jesus went through as He wrestled and took up the deepest form of suffering anyone has ever endured. And in that most difficult time, He showed us the things we can do too.
Jesus Is Full God and Fully Human, Experiencing Pain and Suffering
Sometimes, as Christians, we think that having faith means we don’t feel the reality of the circumstances we are going through. As if having a heavenly perspective equates not seeing or feeling things in the moment because we are so fixed on heaven that earthly matters don’t affect us.
But Jesus shows us a different example. Jesus sweat blood as He experienced the heavy reality leading up to His crucifixion. He wsa in fill anguish as he prayed and cried out to God "let this cup pass from me". Hebrews tells us that He despised the shame of the cross and took it up with joy (Hebrews 12:2). But in the moments leading up to that mental shift where He was able to find joy for the end result, He was stressed — excessively burdened. In Matthew 26:41 we see Jesus tell the disciples, "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
God doesn’t expect that we won’t sweat or struggle. Because He knows what it is like to take up His cross, and He wants us to know that He understands. This comforts me greatly!
Sometimes we don’t realize how easy it is to lose our grasp on the realities we face while holding onto heaven’s hope until we see it unpacked before us.
Another reality check we get from this passage is that if Jesus experienced deep emotions and even physical effects from them, will our faith somehow elevate us from the same sorts of emotions and effects Jesus felt? He was so stressed that He sweat blood and said He was so disturbed in His soul He could die (Matthew 26:38). Jesus knew the cross was before Him and that the weight of redemption for all mankind was to come through his sacrifice, yet in a moment of full humanity he cried out to got to "let this pass".
The number of times biblical figures expressed that the stress of life could just kill them or that the burden of emotion made them want to die is more frequent than we hear in Sunday School.
If God Himself was so burdened that He felt He could die from it all and then sweat blood, asking God "let this cup pass from me", it stands to reason that at some point, platitudes like “well, just remember God works all things out for good” might not be the right thing. Sometimes the right Scripture passage is indeed the balm our souls need.
And sometimes, just like Jesus needed His friends to pray with Him, we need friends to pray with us and sweat it out with us. Don’t expect that faith will equate to some detached tranquility. Our Lord didn’t exemplify detached living.
Stress ought not to define us, our Lord definitely wants more freedom for us than to be defined by our emotions, but that doesn’t mean we won’t ever feel stressed — even stress so significant it alters our physical health.
Let us lean into Jesus’ example. Let us hold tight to our Father in times of trouble, but not trouble our hearts more than they already are because we feel the reality of the moment.
There’s comfort and peace when we learn to grab hold of heaven’s promises while still handling earth’s burdens — without losing our grip on either.
Nevertheless, Not My Will, But Yours Be Done
When Jesus said, "Let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will," it reflects the deep anguish and struggle He experienced in His humanity. In this moment, Jesus, fully aware of the suffering and death that awaited Him, expressed His human desire to avoid the impending agony of the crucifixion. However, His ultimate submission to the will of the Father demonstrates His perfect obedience and surrender to God's plan for redemption.
Despite His human emotions and fear, Jesus willingly chose to align His will with the Father's, exemplifying humility, trust, and obedience even in the face of immense suffering. This moment showcases the profound humanity of Jesus, as He grappled with the weight of His mission while exemplifying unwavering faith and submission to God.
Jesus Show's It's Okay to Ask the Lord to Take Burdens from You
Sometimes, in an effort to carry our crosses well, we forget that it’s alright with the Lord to ask Him to remove the burden. I know I have made this mistake.
I had heard stories about Christians in other parts of the world praying for us pampered Christians in the West to have trials that would purify our faith and that their faith led them to pray for stronger backs rather than for burdens to be lifted.
So, in light of this, I sometimes felt I could only really honor the Lord if I prayed for a stronger back. But both Jesus and Paul (2 Corinthians 12:8) showed us the example that it is acceptable to our Father to humbly ask that He might remove the burden for us.
Both Paul and Jesus were left to carry their burdens for God’s glory, but they were not left without special grace and purpose for the burden.
If God calls us to a cross, just like with Jesus and Paul, there will be grace, and the purpose will often show itself. Paul knew He needed the thorn in his flesh to keep him humble. Jesus knew you, and I needed Him to bear the cross for us.
It isn’t a 100% litmus test because there are times in Scripture when God’s people are asked to have faith without knowing the details, but many times, when great sacrifice is required of God’s people, He graciously gives some sense of purpose to those carrying the burden.
Regardless of whether God impresses a purpose for a burden in our lives, both Paul and Jesus show us it is always okay to ask God to remove a burden. And if He does, we can walk assured it was a burden we were never meant to carry and praise Him for taking it away for us!
Grace Will Come
When Jesus prayed for his cup to be removed, so alone in His sacrifice, God sent grace to carry Him through. In Luke, we are told that an angel appeared to Him and strengthened Him. The word there for strength is enischuō, not the more commonly used in Scripture Greek word we derive our English dynamite.
This enischuō strength means “able” or “strong enough.” God gave His Son the grace of “enough strength” to carry His cross. And our God will give us enough strength for the times He doesn’t lift our burdens but requires us to carry them as well.
We can be sure that God will provide for our needs. Sometimes it is the “just enough” grace rather than the “dynamite” grace — but the grace will come. He won’t leave us to carry our crosses without Him.
Jesus was able to carry the cup of suffering and fully God's ultimate plan of redemption for all mankind. God is also able to meet you in your suffering with a strength to carry you through.
For further reading:
What Does the Imagery of ‘My Cup Runneth Over’ Mean in Psalm 23:5?
What Is the Medical Account of the Crucifixion?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Lord_Kuernyus
April Motl is a pastor’s wife, homeschool mom, and women’s ministry director. When she’s not waist-deep in the joys and jobs of motherhood, being a wife, and serving at church, she writes and teaches for women. You can find more encouraging resources from April here and here.
Learn more about the meaning and significance behind the Easter holiday and Holy Week celebrations:
What is Lent? and When Does Lent Start?
What is Ash Wednesday? and When is Ash Wednesday?
What is Palm Sunday?
What is Maundy Thursday?
What is Good Friday? and When is Good Friday?
What is Holy Saturday?
What is Easter? and When is Easter Sunday?
Easter Bible Verses
The Resurrection of Jesus
Easter Prayers
