Gethsemane is - in my opinion - the darkest hour and therefore also the finest hour in Jesus’ life. If we do not read this passage with a silent heart, we will fail to notice the greatness of it. Let us not - like the disciples - be annoyed when He is so terribly frightened. Let us not judge, for who are we to judge Someone else’s Servant? None of us can comprehend what battle He fought there!
Let no one be so foolish as to quote Him a Bible verse, like, ‘But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength’ (Isaiah 40:31), or, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always’ (Philippians 4:4), for in the midst of this storm of anguish and sorrow, He would turn and look at us and say, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns’ (Matthew 16:23), as He once said to Peter.
For Jesus Himself is the word of God. And we may find His word in the Bible, alive and active - at least - as long as it is brought to us by the Holy Spirit. As soon as willful people start to wield it, it does not give life anymore, but will bring death and destruction.
Therefore, let us become silent. Better sleepy like the disciples than willful. For, oh great wonder of God, that night in the garden - when Jesus was at His weakest and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground – at that moment did Jesus, the Son of God, reverse the fate of all mankind when He spoke, ‘Yet not My will, but Yours be done.’
When we become fully aware of this great reality, what else can we do than kneel down in loving submission before Him? For He - in His great love for us - gave everything and was obedient to the Godforsaken death!