Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. ‘The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” Matthew 26:36-46
The word ” Gethesemane ” literally means “Oil press,” a frequent meeting place for Christ and His disciples just across the Valley from Jerusalem. It was a garden of ancient olive trees, and is still there to this day. This is where the whole thing of pressure Jesus would have to endure and from where it fell upon Him, a place where the olive is put under a heavy weight and pressed against, until all of its oil would be squeezed out. Jesus is about to begin His journey to the cross, and had taken with Him, three of His disciples ironically for their support. Amazing that God would entrust anything to a mere man, as we are so fallable? Anyway, He asked the disciples to pray for Him. Imagine His disappointment when He found them sleeping instead. Here were three men Jesus brought into a close intimate fellowship with, men who had seen the miracles Christ had done. Three disciples who had the priviledge of being on the Mount of Transfiguration with Him. “Watch!” He tells them, for My soul is exceedingly sorrowful unto death, watch with me.” Here is a great picture of the spiritual plane of prayer. We are told in the Scriptures, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places(Ephesians 6:12). There is a spiritual warfare that takes place at the heart of every intercessory of prayer. Peoples lives being in the balance, Satan will not let them go without a fight! We need to fight these spiritual battles with spiritual weapons, For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,(2 Corinthians 10:4) The Christian life is marked by spiritual battles, yet, it’s through these battle tested trials that make Christians strong in Christ. Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,(Luke 18:1).
Jesus uses Peter’s drowsiness to warn him about the kinds of temptaion he would soon face. The way to overcome temptation is to keep watch and pray. Watching for what? Being aware of your surroundings, and circumstances reminding yourselves as a Christian, I am not to be conformed to this world (Romans 12:1) and yet, I am to bear the fruit of the Spirit, which is love. I am to represent Christ, and His love for people to everyone I encounter. Praying ahead of my day, and through out my day worshipping God the Father, is to set my mind not on earthly things, but on heavenly things, the things of the Spirit that bring glory to God. Watching means being alert and aware of the possibilities of temptation, and being sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading, to know how to pray, for others who are in need and yourself. And because temptation strikes at times when we are most vulnerable, we cannot resist it alone. We need God’s constant help. Prayer therefore is essential because God’s strength can shore up our defenses that are weaking, and defeat Satan’s powerful lies. In the case of these disciples that evening, more than any other night, required disciplined vigilance and steadfastness.
O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done— This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, which is shed for the remission of sins. If there is any other way from which a man can be saved from his sin-laden life, it would have been written down for us right here. Not of our works of righteousness, no man can be saved from God’s judgment by his own good works. No, if not for the shed blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Only begotten Son are we saved from the condemnation that is coming to this world. Christ is asking the Father, “If there is any other way? ” For man to be saved, nevertheless, not My will, but Your will be done (26:39). Therefore submitting Himself unto the will of the Father, is what involves the taking up of the cross. Jesus said to us: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”(Luke 9:23) What does that mean, take up the cross? It means that I too must submit my will totally to the Father. Jesus is not asking any of us to do something He hasn’t done Himself. If fact the Bible makes it clear, Seeing that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin(Hebrews 4:14-15). This is huge, I can have confidence that no matter what I am facing, Jesus will be with me, and most importantly, understands and sympathizes with me.
Beloved friend, We are fast approaching the passion of Christ. This season of living for Christ is so important, as our world looks on, A Spirit filled Christian will be a worshiper of the true and living God. Satan knows what time of the year it is too. He knows people’s interest will be coming more aware of who Christ really is. Satan knows if he can keeps us from worship, he can keep us from spiritual power. He is the master distractor at keeping us from worshipping the Lord in our walk, so be on the alert! Always be in prayer, over those things you feel vulnerable of. Remember that your not alone in this, and that many brethren around the world are under going the same temptaion, and even worse persecution than you or I could ever imagine. We will be ever thankful of the Holy Spirit’s power in our lives when we see our loved ones drawn to the Lord by observing your life and walk with Him.
May the Lord bless your walk!
