God’s Will Is Redemptive (Matthew 26:39)

2026 Bible Reading: Matthew 26–28

PRINCIPLE: God’s will is always redemptive. (Matthew 26:39)

“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 26:39

Matthew 26 brings us to the final hours before the crucifixion of Jesus. After finishing the Olivet Discourse, Jesus told His disciples that the Passover was near and that “the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” At the same time, the chief priests and elders plotted to arrest and kill Him, but their plan would still unfold under God’s sovereign timetable. (Matthew 26:1–5)

Matthew then recorded the anointing of Jesus in Bethany, where a woman poured very expensive ointment on His head. The disciples saw it as waste, but Jesus called it a beautiful act that prepared Him for burial. After this, Judas agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:6–16)

During the Passover meal, Jesus revealed that one of the Twelve would betray Him. He then gave the bread and the cup a new meaning: His body and His blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. After the meal, Jesus told His disciples that they would all fall away, Peter would deny Him three times, and the Shepherd would be struck while the sheep would be scattered. (Matthew 26:17–35)

This brought Jesus and His disciples to Gethsemane (Gethsēmani, from a term meaning “oil press”). Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him and became sorrowful and troubled. Before Jesus prayed in Matthew 26:39, the passage already showed that He knew the cross was coming, He knew the cost would be terrible, and He entered the garden under the full weight of sorrow and surrender. (Matthew 26:36–38)

In Gethsemane, Jesus entered a moment of deep sorrow and anguish. Matthew tells us that He became sorrowful and troubled, and Jesus Himself said, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death” (Matthew 26:38). This was not ordinary sadness. Jesus was facing the cross, and He brought the weight of that moment before the Father.

Then Jesus went a little farther, fell on His face, and prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39a). His posture showed humility and submission before the Father. The phrase “if it be possible” uses the Greek word dynatos, which can mean “able,” “powerful,” or “possible.” This does not mean that Jesus doubted the Father’s power. Rather, He was asking whether there was another way for the Father’s saving purpose to be fulfilled apart from the suffering before Him. The issue was not God’s ability, but God’s will.

The suffering before Jesus is described as “this cup” (potērion). Literally, the word refers to a drinking cup, but in Scripture it can also picture one’s appointed suffering, judgment, or destiny. Jesus was not merely thinking of physical pain. He was facing the cup appointed for Him by the Father—the suffering and judgment connected to His death on the cross.

When Jesus prayed, “let this cup pass from me,” the verb parerchomai points to the idea of the cup passing by or passing away from Him. Jesus was asking if the suffering and judgment represented by the cup could pass from Him without His having to drink it. He was honestly bringing before the Father the full weight of the cross. Yet even in that request, He remained surrendered to the Father’s will.

But Jesus did not end His prayer with His desire for the cup to pass. He said, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39b). The word “nevertheless” (plēn) marks a strong contrast. Jesus brought His anguish before the Father, but He placed His will under the Father’s will. The word “will” (thelō) can mean “to desire,” “to wish,” “to want,” or “to resolve.” This shows that Jesus’ human desire was real. He did not pretend that the cup was light. He submitted His will fully to the Father’s will because the Father’s will was the path by which sinners would be redeemed and brought back to God.

When Jesus prayed again, He said, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done” (Matthew 26:42). Jesus prayed a third time, “saying the same words again” (Matthew 26:44). This showed His full submission to the Father’s will. The cup would not pass from Him. He would drink it. He would go to the cross for the redemption of sinners.

After His prayer, Jesus rose to meet the betrayer. He did not run from the cross. He did not resist the Father’s will. The cross was painful and terrible, but it was not random. It was voluntary obedience to the Father’s redemptive will. Jesus surrendered to the will of the Father because through His death, sinners would be forgiven and brought back to God. (Matthew 26:28, 45–46, 56)

Theological Reflection

Matthew 26:39 teaches us that surrender to God is active obedience. Jesus did not surrender because He was trapped by circumstances. He surrendered because He was obedient to the Father. The cross was painful, but it was not random. The cross was the Father’s redemptive plan for sinners. (Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 10:7)

This passage also shows that surrender to God does not deny sorrow when sorrow is present. Jesus brought His anguish before the Father. He did not pretend that the cup was light. When obedience is painful, true surrender brings the sorrow before God and places it under His will. (Hebrews 5:7–8; 1 Peter 2:23)

Jesus’ prayer also teaches us that God may not always answer prayer by removing the cup. Sometimes He gives grace to drink it. The Father did not remove the cross from Jesus, but He raised Him from the dead. This means that a painful answer does not mean an unloving Father. It may mean that God is accomplishing a greater redemptive purpose than we can see. (Romans 8:32; 2 Corinthians 12:8–10)

This passage also reminds us that God’s will is wiser than our desire. Jesus honestly expressed His desire before the Father, yet He placed His will under the Father’s will. Surrender means we trust that God’s purpose is greater than our preference, His wisdom is greater than our understanding, and His glory is better than our comfort. (James 4:15; Romans 8:28; 1 Peter 4:19)

Surrender is not weakness. Surrender requires faith because it entrusts our will, our pain, and our future to the Father. It is the humble decision to place our will under God’s will, especially when obedience is costly. We may not always understand the cup God allows before us, but we can trust the Father who rules over it.

God’s will is redemptive because His purposes are always wise, good, and saving. Jesus Himself submitted to the Father’s will all the way to the Cross for the redemption of humanity.

Applications

First, Bring Your Pain Before God

“Going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…’” – Matthew 26:39a

Jesus brought His anguish before the Father. He did not hide the weight of the cup. He did not pretend that the cross was light. In His sorrow, He prayed honestly and reverently before the Father.

When obedience is painful, do not deny your sorrow or carry it apart from God. Bring your fear, burden, grief, and struggle before the Father. Prayer is not weakness. Prayer is dependence. The Father welcomes honest prayers that are offered with humble trust.

Second, Submit Your Will to God

“…nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” – Matthew 26:39b

Jesus expressed His desire, but He submitted His will to the Father’s will. His surrender was not passive resignation. It was active obedience. He submitted to the Father’s will because it was the path by which sinners would be redeemed and brought back to God.

There will be moments when God’s will is difficult to accept. There will be seasons when obedience feels costly. But God’s will is wiser than our desire, greater than our preference, and better than our comfort. Trust Him enough to say, “not as I will, but as You will.”

Third, Trust God’s Redemptive Plan

“My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” – Matthew 26:42b

Jesus prayed again and submitted Himself fully to the Father’s will. The cup would not pass from Him. He would drink it. He would go to the cross so that sinners could be forgiven and brought back to God.

We may not always understand why God allows the cup before us, but we can trust the Father who rules over it. His will is not random. His purposes are wise, good, and saving. The cross reminds us that God can accomplish His greatest work through the deepest suffering.

Prayer

Father God, thank You for showing us through Jesus that Your will is always wise, good, and redemptive. Thank You that Jesus submitted to Your will all the way to the Cross so that sinners like us may be forgiven and brought back to You.

Teach us to bring our pain before You. When obedience is difficult, help us not to deny our sorrow or carry our burdens apart from You. Give us humble hearts that pray honestly before You and trust Your care.

Empower us with Your Holy Spirit to submit our will to You. When our desires differ from Your will, help us to say with faith, “not as I will, but as You will.” Keep us from insisting on our own way. Give us the grace to obey even when the path is costly.

Enable us to trust Your redemptive plan. When we do not understand the cup before us, remind us that You are still good, still wise, and still at work. May we surrender to Your will and rest in Your purposes.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.