Hebrews 5 gives us two more details.
We do not want to overlook them.
- He was heard because of His reverence.
- He learned obedience from what He suffered.
What it means that He was heard
We have already considered His requests. He offered them with loud crying and tears. But what does it mean that He was heard? The cup was not taken away from Him. Suppose God wanted to fulfill His plan of salvation in Christ. Then He could not spare Him from death. But God could save Him “from death.” And He did so, when He raised Him from the dead. He was God’s “Holy One.” And He remained devoted to God in the hardest hours. God saw this unbroken reverence and devotion. He confirmed it by not allowing that. “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol.” “Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay” (Psalms 16:10). “He asked life of You, You gave it to him.” “Length of days forever and ever” (Psalms 21:4). God would express full appreciation for His Son’s obedience. He would leave all the dead in the grave. And He would raise one of them. The Lord Jesus foresaw this answer. He knew that He “will not be ashamed.” Therefore, He “made My face like flint.” And He rose from prayer in complete peace (Isaiah 50:7). For the joy set before Him, He was willing. He endured the cross in obedience. It was for the “fullness of joy” before God’s face (Psalms 16:11; Hebrews 12:2).
What it means that He learned obedience
He learned obedience, as Hebrews 5 explains further. It was “from what He suffered.” Before His incarnation, He never had to obey. Because God does not have to obey anyone. But as a man, He had to learn obedience. The sufferings of anticipating Golgotha taught Him this. So He did what brought Him deepest anguish in Gethsemane. It taught Him what obedience truly means. And how far it would have to go. To death on a cross! Unique, perfect obedience!
“Sleep on,” He then said to the disciples. A gentle word. No reproach. The struggle was over. The temptation was past. Further watching with Him was no longer necessary. Further warnings to watch for themselves were no longer possible. Their condition clearly did not allow it. “It is enough” (Mark 14:41). He, as it were, let them sleep on. Yet it is also a sad word. Not because He was disappointed. The disciples’ drowsiness did not surprise Him. He knew everything. But the chance to watch with Him for an hour was gone forever. After Pentecost, Peter would still take on great tasks. James would be the first to suffer martyrdom. John would be banished to solitude. It was because of the testimony of Jesus. But this unique opportunity in Gethsemane was over. How many missed opportunities we have to lament!
“Rest” (Mark 14:41). The work He would now accomplish was not theirs to do. They could not and must not do it. He would fight for them, and they would be silent. Compare Exodus 14:14. Yes, He would even secure eternal rest for them. And that did not depend on their faithfulness. Their watching was not required for that. Only His work on the cross was required. Then comes His call: “Get up, let us go” (Matthew 26:46). He did not send them away. He did not dismiss them because they had failed. He told them to go with Him. They were to meet the traitor and his band together. His heart was calm. He was fully prepared for the coming sufferings. He was ready to drink the cup the Father had given Him. He had watched and struggled in prayer. And He had been strengthened from heaven. The disciples, by contrast, had not watched and prayed. Accordingly, they were unprepared for what was coming. While He, mute like a sheep, would be led to slaughter. Peter reached for the sword. After the Savior healed Malchus’ ear (He did so in “beneficence”) all the disciples left Him and fled.
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