Tag: not My will
Get up and pray!
Scripture reading for April 2nd: Luke 22
The first followers of Jesus as His disciples were called by their master to watch and pray during an all-night prayer vigil following the last Passover meal. They had come to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. “On reaching the place, He said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:40-42)
Jesus knew that the temptation to run and deny Him would attack His followers. He knew that they needed the Father’s help, as He did, to stand against the temptation. He simply called them to watch and pray. He went further by Himself and prayed earnestly. The Scripture says that His sweat became like “drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Luke 22:44) He desired to be released from the cup of suffering that had been given to Him, mirrored by the cup He had given His disciples a few hours earlier. It was a cup representing His blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins. Angels came and strengthened Jesus as He prayed!
“When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” He asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Luke 22:45-46) Jesus, Himself, had pressed through in prayer, but the disciples had fallen asleep. We are really helpless to save ourselves by our own efforts. Jesus’ prayed for them that their faith would not fail as He now intercedes for us. We also must watch and pray as He taught us: “Lead us not into temptation, ” (Luke 11:4)
“Could you not keep watch one hour?”
Scripture reading for February 27th: Mark 14
Following the Last Supper, Jesus and the remaining eleven disciples went out to the Mount of Olives. They went to spend the night with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The name of this garden indicated it was an ‘olive press’ where oil was squeezed from the olives grown there. It would be the place where Jesus sweat great drops of blood as He wrestled with fulfilling the will of God.
Prior to coming there, Jesus had prophesied, “You will all fall away, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” (Mark 14:27-28) Peter had protested that he would remain faithful, no matter what the others might do. Jesus told him plainly that he, too, would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed.
Jesus asked His disciples to sit with Him while He prayed. He took Peter, James and John and made a special request of them. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” He said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” (Mark 14:34) Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father,” He said, “everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:36) When Jesus returned to where they were, He found these close followers sleeping. He particularly spoke to Peter, “Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Mark 14:37-38)
Prayer is a wrestling match with our flesh. One of our greatest needs is to watch and pray each day. Jesus is coming again! Depend on the Holy Spirit to help you to pray!