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How Do We Know What Jesus Prayed At Gethsemane?

    What Jesus Prayed

    How Do They Know That?

    Sometimes we read the Bible and just take everything for granted. It’s the Bible, so it’s true.

    But really, sometimes we have to ask where is that coming from.

    If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you know I’m not trying to encourage you to doubt the Bible as true. But, maybe a few questions can help us out at times.

    Jesus At Gethsemane

    I mentioned earlier this week that I had two observations from the prayer of Jesus at Gethsemane.

    1. The first was Jesus never added “if it’s God’s will” to His prayers.
    2. The second is how do we even know what was said.

    Keep reading to the end, and you will be strengthened in your prayers.

    What Happened That Night

    Most of us know the story; it’s in each of the Gospels. After the last supper, Jesus takes the disciple to the Mount of Olives, so He can pray. At a place called, Gethsemane, He drops off most of the disciples but takes Peter, James, and John further on.

    It’s all pretty easy to follow so far. But as we continue, Jesus finds a place, tells those three how troubled He is, asks them to stay up, and He goes just ahead to pray.

    Here is where things create and a point of question. Those three fall asleep. Jesus asks the Father to remove the cup.

    How Do We Know What Happens Here?

    How do we know this? Jesus had to wake them up on separate occasions. Then immediately the arrest happens.

    Let’s give the disciples some credit. Maybe they never went to sleep so fast. Maybe they tried to stay up. It could be why we have at least some record of what was said.

    Who knows? If they had stayed up longer, maybe we would have had a longer discourse of the prayer.

    Entertaining Angels; Sweating Blood

    But Luke adds more to his version of the time at Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-45)

    Luke says an angel came to strengthen Jesus. He also tells us that Jesus began to sweat drops of blood.

    It is harder to believe the disciples could have fallen asleep after seeing this.

    How do they know what happened? How did Luke of all people write it down?

    Bare With Me

    The rest of this is just speculation. Stick with me.

    While it is not likely the disciples asked what happened before Jesus was arrested, He did meet with them on a few occasions before going back to heaven. They could have asked him, but with all the excitement of having Jesus crucified and now raised from the dead and what does this all mean, I don’t think they thought to ask what happened.

    I do assume the angel came and Jesus sweated blood. I’m not questioning whether or not it happened. How did they know?

    We Have An Informant

    When Jesus went up to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to them. One of His roles is to lead us into all truth.

    At some point, whether inspired by the Holy Spirit or just a fancy of one of the disciples, someone began asking what happened up there. Maybe John noticed blood over where Jesus had prayed. Maybe Peter started exploring what it could have looked like if he had stayed up to pray with Jesus.

    However it happened, I believe the Holy Spirit showed someone what happened that night.

    Even though the disciples all fell asleep, God was there. Each of the Godhead knew what went on.

    There Are Secrets God Wants to Reveal

    God enjoys revealing things to those of His children who are brave enough to ask (Proverbs 25:2).

    We can all take great comfort in this. God doesn’t change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

    The things God wants to share with you are not limited to things you could have figured out with more wisdom.

    God wants to share with you things that you could have never known without Him speaking. He is just waiting for us to ask.

    • What do you think? How do you think they knew what happened?

    I pray that this Easter would be filled with the risen Son shining on every area of your life.

    3 thoughts on “How Do We Know What Jesus Prayed At Gethsemane?”

    1. Pingback: Jesus Didn't Add "If It's God's Will" To His Prayers - prayer coach

    2. Your answers are suffice, and I agree with all of them. I can just hear one of His disciples asking questions on what went on as He went a little further from them and even Him just outright bringing the subject up and informing them on how much He was not feeling up to the upcoming task at the time, but instead not listening to His body followed the Spirit of His Father for they had plenty time to talk after He had risen

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