Our Lord's Example of Resignation
J. Jortin. Matthew 26:36-39 Then comes Jesus with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, Sit you here, while I go and pray yonder.… To show how the Son of God exercised this virtue here upon earth. 1. We all desire the conveniences of life, and to be above dependence. For our sakes He became poor, and never complained on that account. 2. Hard labour attended with weariness is disagreeable. Our Saviour's life, during His ministry, was a life of hardship and fatigue. 3. Hunger and thirst, when long endured, are enemies to our nature, and put us to violent uneasiness till they are satisfied. These our Lord often suffered. 4. To those who have the instructions of others committed to their care, it is agreeable to meet with persons teachable and of good capacities, and tiresome to inform slow understandings. 5. Return of baseness and treachery from our intimates whom we have loaded with benefits, are most grievous to be borne, and will wring from the mildest temper complaints. Even to Judas, Jesus showed great lenity. 6. A good man, whose office it is to instruct others in religion, will be grieved when his charitable labours are lost, and he hath to do with stubborn offenders, who are deaf to all reproofs and admonitions. 7. To be injured in our reputation, and exposed to malicious calumny, is a great trial of human patience. This our Saviour endured. 8. To see multitudes involved in a great calamity is a grief to a charitable man. 9. Future evils, when we see them coming and are sure we cannot escape them, torment us near if not quite as much as when they are present. 10. Men love life and are unwilling to lose it. Most painful and ignominious was the death which Christ endured. (J. Jortin.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. WEB: Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go there and pray."