Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” Matthew 26:36

For me this statement, isn’t just about prayer. Even though yesterday we talked about how important prayer is and how it should be the beginning, middle and end of everything we do.

Jesus suffered. If you keep reading in Matthew 26:36 you can see how his best friends in life let him down. They just couldn’t stay awake. Jesus Christ’s life was characterised by suffering:

• It was foretold, Psalm 22:6-8, Matthew 16:21
• He suffered as a child Matthew 2:13-15;
• Because of his family Mark 3:20-21;
• His disciples slowness to get it

Mark 8:17-21 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? 18 ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all? 19 When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?”

He was betrayed, humiliated and then crucified!  What’s the point of his suffering?

1. You’re not alone, he gets it.  
2. In that moment of being hurt, overwhelmed and let down by the people closest to him...he prayed.

How does Jesus want you to treat others?

Pray for them. Depend on God. Release them and allow God to fulfill the void.  Be like Jesus:

1. Don’t retaliate 1 Peter 2:23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
2. Allow the suffering to grow you up Hebrews 5:8 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.