Scripture Focus
Matthew 26:38, 39, 42 NKJV
Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” (vs 38)
“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.” (vs 39)
“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.” (vs 42)
The events recorded in Matthew 26:38, 39, and 42 offer one of the clearest biblical pictures of what surrender to the will of God truly looks like. Gethsemane is not merely a place of prayer. It is a place of transformation where the will of the flesh is progressively brought into alignment with the will of God. In this passage, Scripture does not only show the obedience of Jesus. It reveals the process by which obedience is formed. This progression is essential for understanding how believers die to the flesh and grow into mature submission to God.
Honest Expression of Human Struggle (First Stage)
In verse 38, Jesus says, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” This statement reveals the emotional and psychological weight Jesus was carrying. Though fully divine, Jesus was also fully human. His soul experienced intense distress as He faced the reality of suffering, rejection, and separation that the cross would bring. This verse teaches that surrender does not begin with spiritual detachment or emotional suppression. God does not require believers to deny their humanity. Instead, surrender begins with acknowledging weakness and pressure before God. The flesh reacts naturally to pain, loss, and sacrifice. Recognising this reaction is not sin. It is reality.
This first stage of surrender shows that spiritual maturity does not mean the absence of struggle. Even Jesus felt sorrow. The difference lies in what we do with that sorrow. Jesus did not allow it to drive Him away from the Father. He carried it into prayer. This reflects the biblical principle found in Psalm 62:8, where believers are encouraged to pour out their hearts before God. True surrender always begins with honest communion before God.
Initial Wrestling with the Father’s Will (Second Stage)
Verse 39 moves the believer deeper into the process. Jesus falls on His face and prays, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Here, the conflict between human desire and divine purpose is fully expressed. Jesus was not resisting obedience. He was expressing the weight of the assignment. The cup symbolised suffering, judgment, and death. By asking if it could pass, Jesus revealed the natural human desire to avoid pain and sacrifice. However, this desire was immediately placed under God’s authority with the words, “not as I will, but as You will.”
This stage teaches that surrender involves choice. The flesh presents its preference, but the spirit submits to God’s will. Submission does not mean the flesh has gone silent. It means the spirit has taken leadership. This aligns with Galatians 5:17, which teaches that the flesh and the Spirit are in opposition. At this point in the progression, the flesh still speaks, but it no longer decides.
Full Alignment with God’s Will (Third Stage)
By the time we reach verse 42, a deep internal shift has occurred. Jesus prays again, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” There is no longer a request for an alternative. The language reflects acceptance, agreement, and resolve. This shows the flesh has fully yielded. The will of God is no longer something to endure. It has become something to embrace. This is the final stage of surrender where resistance is replaced by alignment.
Summary of key Lessons to Learn
- Prayer is the place of surrender. Like Jesus, we must wrestle in prayer until the flesh bows to the Spirit.
- God’s will is always greater than our emotions. Feelings may resist, but obedience brings life and fulfilment.
- Spiritual authority is empowered in surrender. Jesus models that true spiritual authority comes from submission to the Father.
- Victory over the flesh is progressive. It may not happen instantly, but through persistence in prayer, we move from resistance to agreement.
Final Remark
This progression reveals that surrender is often achieved through persistence in prayer. Jesus prayed multiple times, not because God had not heard Him, but because His human will was being brought into full submission. Prayer does not change God’s will. It changes the believer. Each moment in prayer weakens the hold of the flesh and strengthens the resolve of the spirit.
Believers learn that dying to the flesh is not an instant event. It is a process of repeated yielding. Romans 8:13 teaches that by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body. This is a continual work. Gethsemane shows that victory over the flesh happens before obedience is demonstrated in action. Jesus won the battle of surrender in prayer before He walked the path of the cross.
The progression of surrender teaches that God does not rush the process. He patiently leads His children from honesty, to submission, to agreement. Through this journey, the believer grows in maturity, trust, and obedience. Gethsemane reminds us that true surrender is not the absence of struggle, but the triumph of God’s will over the flesh through steadfast submission.
Altar call: For anyone reading this article who is not saved and wants to be part of the family of God or you want to re-dedicate your life back to Jesus, please repeat this out loud. “Lord Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my old ways and ask You to forgive me. Come into my heart, be my Lord and Saviour. Fill me with Your Spirit and help me live for You. Thank You for saving me, in Jesus Name. Amen“
Prayer-Arrow: Holy Spirit, I choose to submit to You. Please move my surrender to the stage where my flesh is fully yielded to Your will, in Jesus Name
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