Luke 22:39-46

1. We see an example of what believers ought to do in times of trouble.
2. We see what kind of prayers a believer ought to make to God in times of trouble.
3. We see an example of the exceeding guilt and sinfulness of sin.
4. We see an example of the feebleness of the best of saints.

"If we want comfort in affliction, then let us take care that we use our Master's remedy. Whatever other means of relief we use, let us pray. The first Friend we should turn to ought to be God."

"Like Jesus, [we] should tell [our] desires openly to [our] heavenly Father, and spread [our] wishes unreservedly before Him. But like Jesus, [we] should do it all with an entire submission to the will of God."

"We must beware jealously of the modern notion that our blessed Lord's life and death were nothing more than a great example of self-sacrifice. Such a notion throws darkness and confusion over the whole gospel."

"When apostles can behave in this way, then the Christian who thinks he can stand should take heed lest he fall."

Questions:

1. When afflictions or difficulty or trials come upon us, to what or whom do we turn first? Can we say that the first Friend we turn to is God? Or do we tend to give way to any one of Satan's many excuses for keeping silent before God?
2. Ryle encourages us, like Jesus to bring our requests to the Father, but also that the highest grace, especially in affliction, is that we would also pray, "not my will, but yours be done." Do we pray this way, even in times of affliction?
3. Ryle gives a number of questions worth repeating: Would we see the sinfulness of sin in its true colors? Would we learn to hate sin with a godly hatred? Would we know something of the intense misery of souls in hell? Would we understand something of the unspeakable love of Christ? Would we comprehend Christ's ability to sympathize with those who are in trouble? He then declares that considering the agony of Jesus suffering in the garden is one of the means to that end. Will we not take time to consider this very thing for the sake of knowing these things more?
4. Ryle tells us that what we read of the disciples sleeping while Jesus prayed is an example of the weakness of the flesh in the best of believers. If the disciples can fail in such a way, then we should take heed lest we fall. Does this not teach us humility and give us a longing for our new bodies when Jesus returns?