We have here the very example of our Lord Jesus in one of the deepest moments of sorrow (Mt 26:37 ), bringing with Him three of His inner-circle disciples to Gethsemane, a place of solace.
We may learn from the example of our Saviour's prayer in His hour of trial.
a) Our God Incarnate turned to God in prayer in the hour of trial. Do we? Or do we turn aside unto vanities? To things that do not profit? To every other helper other than God? God never fails, man may fail us.
b) Our Lord asks us to pray with Him . “tarry ye here, and watch with me”. O weak sinners, how much more we! Pray together. We need to watch with one another in prayer. Yes, we read that the disciples failed Him. May we not fail our brethren who seek us to pray for them. But as we gather together in the Name of our Saviour Jesus and pray to our Heavenly Father, He hears and will bless in His time. We may all take comfort that our great High Priest who now sits at the right hand of the Father neither slumbers nor sleep.
c) Our Lord also prayed alone. He withdrew even from His three closest disciples. Family prayer and corporate prayer are good but solitary prayer must not be neglected, nor can it be substituted. In private, let us turn to God alone and He will hear us.
d) How humbly our Lord prayed. He knelt (Lu 22:41 ) and even "fell on His face."(Mt 26:39 ) How then should we pray? What dust and ashes should cover our heads, how ought we to prostrate ourselves before Him! Are we too proud to kneel? Some may argue that as long as the heart is right, the posture does not matter. Look at the Lord in His anguish! He is our example.
e) Our Lord prayed earnestly. In the hour of distress and deepest struggle, go to God in earnest and submit to Him. Heb 5:7-8 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. Did the Father hear His Son? Definitely! All the prayers of Christ are always answered. Lu 22:43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. The suffering was about to bring premature death and Christ prayed that He might be strengthened to complete the Father’s will for His crucifixion. Christ was specially strengthened to enable Him to do the will of the Father. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.(Heb 4:16 )
f) He called on the Father in this prayer. "Abba, Father." Our Lord teaches in the Lord’s Prayer to address our prayers to “Our Father, who art in heaven”. He is not just our God, but our Father. We are adopted to be His children through Jesus Christ our Lord. In the day of trial, exercise your right to a father's protection. Be not afraid to say, "My Father, hear my cry."
g) Consider how our Lord persevered in prayer. He prayed the same thing three times. Repeating the same thing is not indicative of our lack of faith but of our perseverance and earnestness. Let us learn to cease not but to prevail. Be as the importunate widow, whose continual asking earned what her first supplication could not win. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.
h) Lastly, our Lord set the example of praying with submission. "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." The phrase “not as I will” means that “not as his physically weak will of premature death” but that he will be strengthened to go to the cross. Prayer is not to twist God’s arm to agree with our plans, but it is to change our plans to conform to His. True praying is having the right disposition to be ready to receive God’s will as the best. Let it be as God wills, and God will determine for the best. Let us as the redeemed be content to leave our prayers in his hands, who knows when to give, and how to give, and what to give, and what to withhold. He doeth all things well. Amen.