Complete Submission

The Lord Jesus knew that He presented His requests to the One “who could save Him from death” (Hebrews 5:7). Yet, He could not keep Him from death. Otherwise, God’s great plan of salvation would not be fulfilled. “All things are possible for You,” the Lord had no doubt about that (Mark 14:36). The Father’s omnipotence was self-evident to Him. So that was not the reason the cup could not pass. But He had to deny inwardly the conditions He mentions in Matthew and Luke. They are “if it is possible” and “if You are willing” (Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42). The Lord was fully aware of that fact. Therefore, this urgent request is followed immediately. It is, as it were, in the same breath. It is the “hard Yes” of complete submission to the Father’s will: “Your will be done.”

This agreement was complete in every respect. It concerned what had to happen to accomplish God’s work. It also concerned how it had to be accomplished. The Son was in full harmony with the Father. He did not only say: “what You want,” but also: “how You want” (Mark 14:36; Matthew 26:39). This unique obedience remained perfect to the end. The Lord Jesus’ further path shows it. He is sorrowful here “to the point of death.” He also became obedient “to the point of death: death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).

The Struggling Conflict

Proof of this complete harmony between the Father and the Son is the angel. He was sent from heaven to strengthen the suffering Redeemer. Only Luke reports this. It shows once more how truly human the Lord Jesus was. He received physical strengthening through an angel. The cup He would empty on Golgotha was before His eyes. Its full contents drained His strength now.

Luke speaks of a struggling conflict. We do not dare to say what this conflict consisted of. It took place on His knees. In any case, it is not a death struggle, as Luther assumed. The Greek word agonia only later took on that meaning. It is rather an expression of extreme distress and exertion. The increasing pressure made His prayer more intense. It became more urgent and fervent. The greater the distress, the more His soul clung to God.

This conflict strained Him so much that His sweat became like large drops of blood. In soul and body, the Lord suffered in the foretaste of Golgotha.