And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus' prayer reveals that his human nature genuinely recoiled from the suffering ahead, showing that true obedience isn't the absence of fear, but the choice to submit to God's will despite that fear. This wasn't just a spiritual exercise; it was the profound wrestling of his fully human self with the immense weight of God's plan for salvation.
And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just shared the Last Supper with his disciples and is now heading to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He asks Peter, James, and John to stay awake and watch with him, but he withdraws a short distance further by himself for this intensely personal prayer.
Jesus, fully God and fully human, faced a moment of intense inner conflict. See how His prayer reveals the natural human desire to avoid suffering.
In Gethsemane, Jesus' prayer wasn't a mere formality; it was a profound expression of His human experience. He felt the weight of what was to come – the suffering, the betrayal, the crushing burden of sin for all humanity. The phrase 'if it be possible, let this cup pass from me' speaks to the natural, unadulterated human instinct to recoil from pain and death.
A Natural Aversion
As man, Jesus experienced the full spectrum of human emotion. His human nature instinctively shrank from the overwhelming agony and separation from God that the 'cup' represented. This wasn't a weakness, but a testament to His genuine humanity. It shows us that even the Son of God, in His human capacity, felt the dread of intense suffering.
The 'Cup' of Suffering
This 'cup' was far more than physical pain. It symbolized the full weight of sin, divine wrath, and the spiritual agony of being forsaken by God – the ultimate price for humanity's redemption. Jesus' human self recoiled from this immense, terrifying prospect.
Jesus' prayer wasn't just about His own feelings. Discover the profound theological truth of His submission to the Father's plan, a model for all believers.
While Jesus' human nature recoiled from the suffering, His prayer culminates in a radical act of obedience and trust: 'nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.' This isn't a passive resignation, but an active, decisive surrender to God's perfect plan.
The Divine Mandate
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Jesus understood that the 'cup' was not just a personal trial, but the Father's ordained path to salvation for the world. His perfect obedience, even in the face of unimaginable suffering, fulfilled God's redemptive purpose. This submission demonstrated that His ultimate desire was to align with the Father's will, for the glory of God and the salvation of humanity.
A Pattern for Prayer
In this moment, Jesus gives us the ultimate example of how to pray during trials. It's right to bring our deepest fears and desires to God, but it's essential to couple that with a profound trust in His wisdom and sovereignty. Our prayers should always end with a commitment to His will, recognizing that His plan is ultimately for our good and His glory.
Understand the original words
potērion · Greek Noun
A common Old Testament metaphor representing the experience of divine judgment, wrath, or suffering, which is poured out by God upon the wicked or borne by the Messiah on behalf of others.
thelēma · Greek Noun
The faculty of choice, purpose, or desire; in theology, it highlights the tension between human desire and the sovereign, perfect will of God.
Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane reveals the profound agony of his human nature facing death, yet it’s powerfully framed by his utter submission to God's will, highlighting his obedience even in extreme suffering.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Last Supper
Jesus shares a final meal with his disciples, instituting the Lord's Supper and predicting his betrayal and denial.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
Jesus withdraws to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray intensely about the suffering and death he is about to face.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Betrayal and Arrest
Judas Iscariot leads temple guards to Gethsemane, identifying Jesus with a kiss, leading to his arrest.
c. AD 30
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
Jesus is interrogated by the Jewish high council, facing false accusations and mockery before being handed over to the Roman authorities.
c. AD 30
Jesus Before Pilate
Jesus is presented to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who ultimately yields to the crowd's demands for crucifixion.
c. AD 30
The Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus is nailed to a cross and dies, fulfilling prophecy and completing his atoning sacrifice.
This passage speaks of Jesus offering prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears, and being heard because of his godly fear. It directly relates to His agony in Gethsemane, highlighting His human struggle and submission, just as seen in Matthew 26:39.
Luke 22:41-42This passage describes Jesus kneeling and praying the same words as Matthew's account, adding the detail of His deep distress and the surrender to God's will. It provides a fuller picture of His prayer in Gethsemane.
Genesis 17:17Abraham fell on his face when God spoke to him about the covenant and the promise of a son. This shows a posture of deep reverence and awe before God, similar to Jesus' posture of falling on his face in prayer.
Philippians 2:5-8This passage emphasizes Christ's humility and obedience, becoming human and submitting himself to death, even death on a cross. It echoes the sentiment of 'not my will, but yours be done' in Matthew 26:39.
Romans 12:1-2This passage calls believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices and not conform to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of their minds. It connects to Jesus' ultimate sacrifice and the submission of His will to the Father's, urging us to do the same.
bensonMatthew 26:39: "And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
Matthew 26:39 . And he went a little further — Luke says, He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, so that the apostles could still both see and hear him; and fell on his face — It seems he first knelt down, Luke 22:41 , and then, as the ardour of his soul increased, prostrated himself on his fac…
barnesMatthew 26:39: "And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
And he went a little further - That is, at the distance that a man could conveniently cast a stone (Luke). Fell on his face - Luke says "he kneeled down." He did both. He first kneeled, and then, in the fervency of his prayer and the depth of his sorrow, he fell with his face on the ground, denoting the…
Jesus' prayer reveals that his human nature genuinely recoiled from the suffering ahead, showing that true obedience isn't the absence of fear, but the choice to submit to God's will despite that fear. This wasn't just a spiritual exercise; it was the profound wrestling of his fully human self with the immense weight of God's plan for salvation.
Jesus has just shared the Last Supper with his disciples and is now heading to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He asks Peter, James, and John to stay awake and watch with him, but he withdraws a short distance further by himself for this intensely personal prayer.
Jesus has just shared the Last Supper with his disciples and is now heading to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He asks Peter, James, and John to stay awake and watch with him, but he withdraws a short distance further by himself for this intensely personal prayer.
"And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”" — Jesus' prayer reveals that his human nature genuinely recoiled from the suffering ahead, showing that true obedience isn't the absence of fear, but the choice to submit to God's will despite that f…
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Last reviewed October 2026