Matthew 26:39

Jesus’ prostrate posture reflected the intense anguish He felt. He addressed God as "My Father" (cf. Matthew 6:9). This title stresses the intimacy that Jesus felt with God (cf. Mark 14:36). This is the only time, according to the Gospels, that Jesus addressed God this way. In view of the limits that His incarnation involved, Jesus may not have known if another way to provide redemption existed (cf. Matthew 24:36), though this seems unlikely.

"We are here in full view of the deepest mystery of our faith: the two Natures in One Person. Both Natures spake [sic] here, and the ’if it be possible’ of St. Matthew and St. Mark is in St. Luke ’if Thou be willing.’" [Note: Edersheim, The Life . . ., 2:540.]

In one sense God can do anything, but in another sense He binds Himself to certain courses of action because of His own purposes. Jesus was asking for a release from having to undergo the outpouring of God’s wrath for humankind’s sins on the cross (cf. Matthew 4:1-11; Matthew 16:21-23). [Note: See Hagner, Matthew 14-28, p. 785.] Notwithstanding, He wanted something more than that. Above all else He wanted His Father’s will to happen. He submitted to suffering and death if this was the only way to provide salvation, but He requested another solution if possible. The "cup" is an Old Testament figure for suffering and death under the wrath of God (cf. Matthew 26:27; Matthew 20:22-23; Psalms 11:6; Psalms 75:7-8; Isaiah 51:17; Isaiah 51:22; Jeremiah 25:15-16; Jeremiah 25:27-29; et al.). [Note: See C. E. B. Cranfield, "The Cup Metaphor in Mark xiv. 36 and Parallels," Expository Times 59 (1947-48):137-38.]

This is an excellent model prayer when we do not know the will of God specifically. We can request our preference, as Jesus did, but we should also submit our preference to the will of God, whatever that may be (cf. Matthew 6:10). This does not make prayer meaningless because sometimes our preferences will be within God’s will. He may not give us what we want without our requesting it (cf. James 4:2). If our preference is outside God’s will, denying our request will be a positive answer to our prayer if what we want supremely is His will.