Until now, Jesus seemed to have faced His impending death with unwavering resolve, calm control and fearless courage. In Gethsemane, He revealed His deepest feelings.

Jesus left the upper room and took his disciples to "Gethsemane", an olive orchard on the slopes of Mt Olivet. Jesus left most of the disciples there and took Peter, James, and John with Him to another part of the orchard. He then revealed his feelings of distress and grief and told the three disciples to keep watch with Him – looking out for signs of trouble.

He went a little further, away from the three, prostrated Himself and prayed. As He contemplated His future - bearing God's wrath for the sins of the world and experiencing separation from His Father – Jesus wished that He would be spared from the cup. Why is the cup such a dreaded thing? The “cup” is the cup of God’s wrath, poured out on sinners (Psalm 75:6-10).

Jesus affirmed that all things are possible for the Father; He then asked if it was possible to let this cup pass from Him (Matthew 26:39). What was Jesus asking? I don’t think He was asking the Father to put aside the plan of salvation. Rather Jesus was exploring if there was any other way to achieve the salvation of man. Of course, there isn’t for without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22).

Jesus was praying fervently. He prayed not once but three times. Nevertheless, He submitted to the Father’s will (in His second prayer, see Matthew 26:42). Jesus had a choice and He chose to drink of the “cup”. Why? He drank so that we might be spared from drinking of the same “cup”.