That Time Jesus Had to Strengthen Himself in His God: What It Means to You

And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

1 Samuel 30:6 ESV

And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Luke 22:41–44 ESV

If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

Proverbs 24:10 ESV

I wrote a post about David to persuade you that you need to occasionally and perhaps regularly strengthen yourself in God. An issue that might obstruct a reader from following that advice is a conviction that one is already strong enough. One might have an unjustified confidence in one’s strength and might mistake that confidence for faith.

Jesus had known for a long time that he would be betrayed, abandoned, falsely condemned, and crucified. When discussing the ambitious request of James and John, he showed no doubt or hesitation:

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

Matthew 20:20–22 ESV

We read this passage and are amazed at the arrogance of James and John. Perhaps we are even more amazed that Jesus doesn’t instantly and directly dismiss and rebuke this arrogance. But take a moment to consider something else: the utter confidence that Jesus displays. There is no question that he will drink the cup. He knows it is ahead of Him and he is ready for it. The commitment and ability of James and John may be questioned, but not his.

This would make us think that there is nothing in common between David’s finding his family and the families of his troops had been abducted and Jesus’ facing the cross. David was caught by surprise; Jesus was not.

But it is not that simple and the issue of expectations is not that relevant. David and Jesus still have in common a sudden onset of weakness. Simply put, knowing something horrible is going to happen in the future is not the same experience as knowing something is about to happen in the near future. So as the time approaches, we see Jesus start to sound different:

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.”

John 12:27-2 in t8a ESV

Then, on the night of the Last Supper, it got worse in the upper room:

After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

John 13:21 ESV

Nevertheless, once he galvanized Judas to leave to carry out his plot, Jesus encouraged his disciples. Then, after he led them to the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, it all came back:

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Matthew 26:36–39 ESV

Of course Jesus remained submissive to God’s will. But his tone and attitude was quite different from when he was asking James and John if they could drink the cup that he would drink. Much more than David before him, the Son of David “was greatly distressed” (1 Samuel 30:6).

And like David, when he strengthened Himself in God, Jesus was enabled to take action:

So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

John 18:3–11 ESV

The man who confidently declared that he would drink the cup is back! Jesus strengthened himself in God and now he is using that strength of accomplish God’s will.

NOT JUST JESUS

The Letter to the Hebrews uses Jesus’ prayers in Gethsemane to encourage believers:

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:7–10 ESV

The author of Hebrews both shows Jesus’ unique identity, calling, and accomplishment and offers him as a example who is supposed to be followed. He is the pioneer and now we must walk the trail he blazed. Christians are sons being “perfected” (matured; same word is used in Hebrews 5:14) through suffering (see especially Hebrews 11:39-12:11).

The original audience for the letter were suffering persecution and needed to be exhorted to persevere in prayer and faith like Jesus did at Gethsemane. When Jesus originally was about to enter Gethsemane, his problem was that his disciples were all too confident that they were already strong enough.

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

Mark 14:26–31 ESV

This is the contrast: Jesus, who will stay faithful to the end, does so by praying desperately to God for help and being strengthen by him via an angel. The disciples who will scatter and worse, claim that they will never be unfaithful, and fall asleep rather than pray (Matthew 26:40-46; Mark 14:37-41; Luke 22:45-46).

STRENGTH WAVERS

I have written all this to make one basic point. Human strength wavers. Even Christian strength wavers. Making plans and commitments on the premise of unwavering strength is to plan and commit to fail at the point when you most need to be strong. When you get married or have a child baptized you need to be ready to make this your practice. Even starting a job or enrolling in a college requires this kind of practice.

You are not strong enough to never be weak.

And you’re not supposed to be.

However, you are supposed to know how you can be strengthened, like David did when his family was abducted. Like Jesus did on the night of his betrayal. We strengthen ourselves by praying to God, asking for strength, and reminding ourselves of God’s character and promises (read the Psalms to see prayers that are also such reminders and encouragements).

The reason you can be rebuked for having small strength and fainting in the day of adversity (Proverbs 24:10) is because you are supposed to have prepared for it. You have an obligation if make yourself strong.