Luke 22:39-46

What to expect

In movies, regardless of the genre, if the director wants to you pay particular attention to a plot point, they would very intentionally make it up close and personal, and slow the moment right down.  The eye-witness account of Jesus here is as up close and personal as you can get.

In Luke’s account we see Jesus praying. What’s so significant about this moment that Luke thought it was important to record it so carefully?

Death
Luke 22:39-46

Jesus prays on the Mount of Olives

³⁹ Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ ⁴¹ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴² ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

⁴⁵ When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶ ‘Why are you sleeping?’ he asked them. ‘Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.’