Craig Keener writes about the prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane. He suggests that he prayer must be considered authentic because it meets “the authentic criterion of embarrassment”—that is, no Christian author would make up this prayer-account because it potentially brings embarrassment upon the Christian faith. The portrait of Jesus facing death in despair is vastly different from pagan “heroes” like Socrates or Jewish heroes like the Maccabean martyrs who faced death calmly.[i] But what a comfort this portrait is–it invites us to voice our own despair to God in times of pain and grief.
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (Matt. 26:36-46 ESV)
[i] Craig S. Keener, A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (Eerdmans, 1999), 633.
