Mark 14:39-42; Heb. 5:5-11, Jesus’ Effective Prayer (1)

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  Jesus prayed fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane.  His Father did not take away the cup that Jesus asked Him to take away.  So, what did Jesus’ fervent prayer avail?

·       14:42: Jesus came into the Garden “troubled and deeply distressed” (v33).  His soul was “exceedingly sorrowful, even to death” (v34).  He had been feeling this all day (Jn. 12:27).  But after a time of fervent prayer, His attitude had completely changed.  To His sleeping disciples He said, Rise, let us be going.  See, My betrayer is at hand.  He is now ready to face all that is involved in the cross.  In fact, His Father had answered prayer, because Jesus did not simply ask “Take this cup away from Me.”  He had also prayed, “nevertheless, not what I will but what You will.”  He submitted Himself to His Father.  So the Father answered, not by removing the cup but by strengthening His Son, to the depths of His soul, that He might be enabled to drink from the cup.

o   The Apostle Paul had a similar experience and explains what Jesus experienced.  In 2 Cor. 12:7-10 Paul asked the Lord to remove a “thorn in the flesh” that he was experiencing.  Like Jesus, Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away.  In other words, he prayed fervently.  The answer was, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.  God assured Paul that he would be able to serve Him in spite of the trial.  And more likely, the trial would bring to God greater glory.  That is why Paul went on to say, Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

o   If you are wondering about this, yes, the same thing happened to Jesus.  Heb. 5:5-11 tells us what was happening in Gethsemane.  Christ was becoming our High Priest.  But v5 tells us He did not glorify Himself to accomplish this.  His Father declared Jesus to be His Son and a “priest forever” (v5-6).  One thing about our High Priest is that He was one of us, a fellow Man (Hb. 5:1; 2:9-16).  Since He suffered, He HHe is able to aid those who are tempted (Hb. 2:18; 4:15).  To qualify as our High Priest He had to endure the suffering.  Heb. 5:7 describes His fervent praying in Gethsemane: He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death.  The writer goes on to say, and was heard because of His godly fear.  The Son of God learned obedience, and was perfected.  The term means He came to the conclusion that God had in mind for Him.  Having been perfected He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (5:9).  God made the “captain” (author) of our salvation perfect through suffering (Hb. 2:10).  Truly, the fervent prayer of Jesus availed much! Can you say Amen!?