Mat 26:53 Did you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Alternative: Don't you suppose that I have the power to summon my Father, and he would supply me with more than twelve legions of angels?

Christ's final lessons are about duty and power. The sword is the symbol of power, but Christ's real power is he relationship with his Father who is the true source of power. What Christ's lesson here is that the cup, that is the duty you accept, is more important than the power, especially since everyone has the power to avoid their duty.

In this verse, Christ is going back to that same question of who has power. Though God is spirit and hidden, He has power, the power over everything physical, mental, and spiritual. Earthly powers have temporary power simply because God has given humanity freedom.

However, this statement says something about Christ's view of the mutability of history. He knows that his death is part of a larger, historical plan. His death was foretold by prophets all through history. However, he still knows that as a human being he is still free to decide, to choose his fate. God already knows his choice but it is still his choice. He has the power to change history if he chooses. His death is not predetermined simply because it is foretold.

Not only can he choose against history, but Christ goes further. God will support him in his choice. He has the power as a human to choose and he still has access to God's power even if he choose against God's plan. So his choice to take the cup wasn't a false choice, just for show. It was a real choice.

What would have happened if Christ had chosen differently? A different history would have occured. There would still have been a Messiah and it still might have been Christ, but he and history would have fulfilled God's plan in another way. This is the meaning of human freedom. We can all choose to make our own decisions but regardless of our choices, God's will is being done: EVEN TO THE EXTENT OF HONORING OUR FREEDOM.

Christ's freedom of choice is the most extreme example of human freedom. Christ knew his fate and knew that it was prophesied. He knew what choice he would make. However, it was still his choice even though he already knew what choice he would make. He was completely free, to the point that he agonized about his decision, even though he knew absolutely how he would make it.

How different is this from any of our choices? For example, I can "know" I will never do some things. For example, I would never try to cheap someone out of their money. My whole sense of myself is that I value my personal trustworthiness and credibility much more than I do money. Does that mean that I can't be tempted by money? No. I know I am free to make what I see as terrible choices. I may even be wrong about my nature. Under some circumstances, I might be put in a position which I needed the money and had to sacrifice my character. I am reminded of Peter and his denying Christ three times when he thought that this was something that he would never do. Peter was certainly a stronger man than I am.

So human freedom is real. If Christ wasn't free to make his choice, it would have proven the idea of predestination. However, Christ was free and so are we.

"Think" is from dokeô (dokeo), which means "expect," "suppose," "imagine," "have an opinion," "seem," "seem good," and "to be reputed."

"Can(not)" is from the verb, dunamai (dunamai) which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities," "to be able," and "to be strong enough." In the previous verse, the word used was the adjective, dunatos (dunatos), which means "strong," "mighty," "possible," and "practicable."

"Pray" is from parakaleô (parakaleo) which means "call in," "summon," "address", "demand," and "beseech." It means literally "call closer."

"Shall not presently give me" is from paristêmi (paristemi), which means "to cause to stand beside," "to place besides," "to set before the mind," "to present," "to furnish," "to supply," "to deliver," "to make good," "to show," "to present," "to offer," and "to render."