WEEK THREE – FINAL THOUGHTS
Insights on coping with our own suffering (Matthew 26:36-46) NIV
(As a reference, this passage is repeated at the end of this section.)
NOTE TO GROU LEADER: Insights on Coping with our own suffering (Matthew 26:36-46) NIV”. It is a time for personal reflection and to share our experiences and how they relate to the passage. Allow the group to consider if this exercise and discussion have provided clarity for our lives and how we live from day to day. Allow the discussion to flow freely so that individuals feel that they have been heard. Try to ensure that everyone had an opportunity to share. Do not insist that a person share but offer him or her the opportunity. The closing reflection and prayer may be read by the Group Leader, or one or two members of the group may be asked to read aloud. (Items needed: Closing Reflection, Closing Song, Discussion Questions):
Follow the order as indicated below:
- Closing Reflection
- Closing song with words
- Discussion Questions
- Closing Song (if group wishes)
Closing Reflection and Prayer:
Imagine for a moment being with Christ on that dreadful, gut-wrenching scene in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before he died.
He had told us earlier that this day would come. In Mark 8:31, he said, “the Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, (and after three days rise again).” In Matthew 16:21 he used similar words. He came to us specifically to fulfill the prophesies and to bring us salvation. That time had finally come.
But, on that evening, with the reality of His fate imminent, He was fully aware that living in Roman times His journey would take Him to the cross. His fears, anxiety came to the surface in anticipation of the worst that would happen to Him – his heart pounding out of His chest, His legs shaking and weakened, tears streaming down His face, His hands and body sweating. We read of the intensity of his emotions in Luke 22:44: “…being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”
We see Christ is all his humanity, in all His vulnerabilities … While we live His reality, at that moment, we want to take that “cup” from Him. He, too, asks God: “Father, if it is possible, for this cup (this suffering) to be taken away…”
Why, we ask, is this terrible suffering going to happen to Him. He is a good, honest, just and loving man. He saves people from the chains and torment of the evil one. He feeds the hungry. He gives new life to those who have died. If He had lived longer, He could have continued this beautiful life of service. He could have taught us more about the living and true God.
Despite His torment and anguish, He knew that God had another plan, He trusted God and resolved Himself. “… “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done.” He complied.
Dreadful as this time was for Jesus, He yearned for His closest friends and disciples to spend time with Him and pray. But here, too, He experienced disappointment. They failed to be with him and to pray with Him. We can imagine Him walking forlorn and dejected toward them and finally saying, “The hour has come…Let us go! Here comes my betrayer.”
How many times have we turned to God at those moments of facing an unknown future, anticipating pain and suffering? A possible medical diagnosis? A child seemingly lost is a spiral of bad decisions? A marriage that, after years of commitment and love, is falling apart? A fear of aging and becoming dependent on others?
And, like Jesus in the Garden, we pray, “Father, if it is possible, take this cup from me.” Sometimes, our Father in heaven, answers our pleas quickly and affirmatively. And we are relieved and thankful.
Other times, He seems slow in His response, or we believe He doesn’t seem to be listening at all. Or, worse yet, His response appears ominous, overwhelming, and too painful to bear. Where do we go from here? Do we reject God and refuse to acknowledge His will for us? Do we angrily turn away from Him and all that He represents, blaming and attacking Him and others for abandoning us? Do we withdraw into our pain and suffering?
Or, do we follow the example of Christ in Gethsemane, “Father, … your will be done.”
When we come right down to it, this compliance with the will of God will take us to a better place – spiritually, emotionally, physically, and socially. Sometimes, it is extremely difficult to do. We ask ourselves, “how can I let go? How can I just wait and see? Shouldn’t I be the one who controls my destiny?”
Of course, God has given us free will and so, it seems logical and good that we should do all we can to follow the path which we believe is best for us. But, there are times in our lives that we come to an unscalable wall, or a difficult crossroad where it seems that every choice is the wrong choice.
These are the times when, like Jesus did, we need to put ourselves totally in His loving arms, “your will be done.” We have to trust in Him, knowing that He knows all and would never take us down the wrong path. He wants only the best for us and, in the end, no matter how much suffering and pain we may endure, we, like Jesus, will wake up to a new day, refreshed and renewed.
Let us pray:
Dear Lord,
Things are not always easy.
I am at the point in my life when I cannot do as much for myself.
I am so dependent on others.
It feels so humiliating, so degrading.
I used to be strong and vibrant. I was the one who helped others.
I was the one everyone came to for help and support.
Now, I just sit and wait for others to remember that I am here.
I just sit and wait for someone to help me dress and bathe.
And bring me food.
This is not how I envisioned my life to be.
Why do you require me to live this cross? This burden?
I don’t have answers, just one question after another.
And, sometimes, I wonder if you are listening to me?
Everyone tells me to trust in You, that you love me,
That you always answer our prayers,
and that those answers will take us to
a better spiritual and emotional place
because you know what is best for me.
Let’s say for a moment that I accept these words that should console me,
How do I let go so that you can bring me to a place of peace, a place of solace?
Let’s say for a moment that you truly know what is best for me,
How can I learn to accept your ways, your intentions and your will for me?
Let’s say for a moment that, whether now, or sometime in the future,
I will have relief and maybe even joy,
How do I embrace this hope, this vision?
Help me, Lord, I am struggling.
Help me to trust in You.
Help me to give myself, my pains, my doubts and my life to you.
So that you can make me better now,
stronger now, more patient and understanding now.
Because tomorrow, whenever it comes,
will bring light and joy and peace.
Give me the comfort in knowing
that You will do what is good and right for me
no matter what I am asking.
Help me, Lord to believe and trust in You.
Amen.
Closing discussion questions:
- What thoughts did you have as you read the final reflection? Can you identify with some of these thoughts and explain why?
- Did the prayer mirror your thoughts at all? If so, how? If not, why not? What would you change, add or delete from the prayer?
- Does the song call out to you? How? What is it telling us?
- Share a moment when you felt lost and alone, when you felt that God was not answering your prayer. Explain your feelings. Did God finally answer your prayer? Was your prayer answered in the way you had hoped?
- Share a moment when you felt that God had answered your prayers in a way that you did not expect. What happened? How did God’s answer impact your life?
- What is the overall message of (Matthew 26:36-46) NIV for you?
- Reflect on the last three weeks of bible study. Share your spiritual and emotional journey. What questions did you have? What concerns did you address? Did you gain any insights or have questions answered?
- Closing Question for “Insights on Coping with our own suffering” (Matthew 26:36-46) NIV — Have these three weeks of Bible Study given you any sense of wellness, a sense of hope? If so, how? If not, why not?
Closing Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am18duPzcgo&list=RDam18duPzcgo&start_radio=1&rv=am18duPzcgo&t=251
The Agony in the Garden
By Danielle Rose
The world’s in darkness, but I cannot sleep.
All my friends want to be with me, but they cannot wait for dreams.
I am surrounded by the ones who love me most,
But I have never felt so alone.
I can see all that is to come.
I know what God is asking, I know how I am to love.
Oh, Father. I know you can hear me.
Is there any other way, another prayer to pray.
Father, if Your love permits, let this cup pass me by.
Still let it be as You would have it, not as I.
Father, if Your love permits, let this cup pass me by.
Still let it be as You would have it… not as I.
I know my betrayal is a never ending one.
And I know salvation is in the hands of the Son.
So I fall to the earth and my knees hit the ground.
Then I bury my face in the darkness that surrounds me.
How much more will my heart break?
Peter stay and pray with me. Can you stay awake?
Oh, Father. I know you can hear me.
Is there any other way, another prayer to pray.
Father, if Your love permits, let this cup pass me by.
Still let it be as You would have it, not as I.
Father, if Your love permits, let this cup pass me by.
Still let it be as You would have it… not as I.
Do I believe that you really love me?
Cause if you love must you ask me for this yes?
Every generation from now on will call me blessed.
Do you see the angel crying at the blood that once was sweat?
Oh, Father. I know you can hear me.
Is there any other way, another prayer to pray.
Father, if Your love permits, let this cup pass me by.
Still let it be as You would have it, not as I.
Father, if Your love permits, let this cup pass me by.
Still let it be as You would have it… not as I.
NOTE TO GROUP LEADER: At the end of the session, you may want to allow the group to have a few moments for open discussion about the session and what it may have meant for them.
Matthew 26:36-46
New International Version
Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedeealong with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrowto the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”