What is the meaning of Matthew 26:37? He took with Him • Jesus is not alone as He steps into Gethsemane; He deliberately chooses companionship (Mark 14:33). • Throughout Scripture, God often draws a few close witnesses into pivotal moments—think of Moses and Joshua on Sinai (Exodus 24:13) or Abraham with the two servants on Moriah (Genesis 22:3). • By inviting disciples into His private agony, the Lord models shared fellowship for times of trial (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; Galatians 6:2). Peter and the two sons of Zebedee • This “inner circle” (Peter, James, John) had already witnessed the raising of Jairus’s daughter (Mark 5:37) and the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-2). • Their presence underscores accountability and testimony—“Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (2 Corinthians 13:1). • Peter will soon deny, James will be the first apostolic martyr (Acts 12:2), and John will outlive them all (John 21:22-23). Jesus is preparing each for distinct futures by letting them see the cost of redemption up close. and began • The verb signals a marked turning point: the public ministry is concluding; the hour has come (John 12:23). • Up to this moment, Jesus has moved steadily toward the cross with resolute purpose (Luke 9:51). Now He openly enters the emotional depth of that mission. to be sorrowful • “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3). The prophetic portrait finds its full expression here. • Jesus carries the grief of the world (Matthew 8:17), and the sorrow He feels is real, not symbolic. • His sorrow validates our own—“Surely He has borne our griefs” means He understands every tear we shed (Hebrews 4:15). and deeply distressed • Mark adds that He was “troubled” (Mark 14:33); Luke notes His sweat became like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). • The intensity shows the weight of sin being laid upon the sinless One (2 Corinthians 5:21). • Yet even in distress, He submits: “Not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39), modeling perfect obedience for all believers (Philippians 2:8). summary Matthew 26:37 reveals a Savior who brings trusted friends into His darkest hour, demonstrates genuine human sorrow, and still chooses obedience. By literally recording His anguish, Scripture assures us that Jesus fully understands suffering and has carried it for us, inviting us to watch, learn, and rest in His completed work on the cross. |
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