In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus provides us with the clearest example of someone who drew on an extra measure of God’s grace in an intense time of need.
While in the garden, Jesus asked His disciple to pray with Him. He said, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch
with me” (Matthew 26:39 KJV).

Jesus went into the garden to pray with a heaviness that seemed as though it would kill Him. He was facing the darkest moment in human history. He prayed
that this cup of suffering would pass from Him if possible. His flesh drew back from the prospect of whips slicing His back and of nails piercing His
hands and feet, just as our flesh would.

Because Jesus was suffering so intensely as He entered the garden, He wanted His closest friends with Him. He wanted their support and prayer as He faced
the most difficult task a man would ever confront.

Three times Jesus prayed a prayer of commitment. He was willing to do what was necessary, but the sense of power and authority He had walked in throughout
His earthly ministry was distinctly absent from these prayers. We can feel the heaviness in His voice. We can hear the weakness of His humanness. Afterward,
when Jesus told Peter, “…The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (v. 41), He was speaking not only of the disciples’ weakness but also
of His own.

Jesus knows what it is to live life in the weakness of flesh. He knows and understands the limits that our bodies and emotions constantly try to impose
on us. But He shows us how to rise above the limits of our humanness and to live by the power of our inner spirit man.

Notice verses 45 and 46. Now there is a difference in Jesus’ voice.

“Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into
the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me” (KJV).

Something has happened! This is no longer the weak, heavy-hearted Jesus who had entered the garden. Something has changed. Jesus walks into the plan for
man’s redemption with total control and complete submission to the will of His Heavenly Father.

What made the difference in the garden? Hebrews 4:16 provides us with the answer: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (NKJV).

Jesus came to the throne of grace and found the strength and ability to do what He could not do in Himself. He chose to rely on His Heavenly Father, just
as we must do in the situations of life you face every day.

Jesus demonstrated how to face adversity through the power of the Holy Spirit.
He knew what it was to feel the limitations of flesh. He was tempted in every way as we are, yet He did not let His weakness dominate Him. He came
into the presence of His Father and found all that He needed.

We have access to the very presence and throne of God. He invites us to come boldly to the throne of His grace and find the strength and ability we need
to overcome in every situation we will ever encounter in life.