IN THE GARDEN
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Then Jesus left them again and prayed the same prayer as before. When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. And they didn’t know what to say. When he returned to them the third time, he said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But no—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”
Mark 14:32-42 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
This passage is worth reading slowing and trying to put yourself in that garden. It is the Garden of Gethsemane—which literally mean, “oil press.” It was in this garden that Jesus dealt with the weakness of His own humanity. Even though He was fully God Jesus was also fully human. (I know that is hard to digest). There are several observations in this passage. First, Jesus knew the importance of prayer. Even though He was the Son of God and did nothing out of alignment with Father God Jesus still had His flesh to deal with. Jesus knew He needed to renew His spirit so that His spirit would overcome the weakness of His flesh. Jesus knew He needed to spend time with the Father before the Father would place on Him the sins of the world and be forced to look away from the Son. Secondly, I note that Jesus took the eleven disciples with Him for prayer and then separated three of the eleven to be closest to Him.
When we are facing difficult moments, we need people in our lives that will be there for us. We need people who will stick with us and pray with us. I also note that all eleven disciples fell asleep. They did not understand the importance of this time. It was late at night, and they were physically tired. They failed to understand the spiritual significance of this moment in history. Peter is specially mentioned by Jesus as being asleep. Only moments before Peter declared he was ready to die for Jesus—but now he is not willing to pray with Jesus. Dying for a good cause has a romantic feel to it. There is that hero picture that stirs the hearts and inspires action. Praying for a good cause is unseen and rarely heralded as worth recognition. Peter said he was willing to fight in the physical world, but he didn’t understand the battle that was raging in the spiritual world. I wonder if we aren’t a lot like Peter. We fail so often to recognize the spiritual battle that is being fought all around us. In our marriages, families, finances, physical bodies, and our nation. We lack the insight that would prompt us to be more fervent and active in our prayer lives. Peter fell asleep three times while Jesus was praying. In a few hours Peter would deny knowing Jesus three times. I wonder if Peter had prayed would he have denied Jesus? Would Peter have received deep insight about God’s plan? Would that insight have allowed Peter to walk away during the arrest without cutting off the servant’s ear or denying Jesus in the courtyard? Would Peter have been strong enough on the day of crucifixion to have been telling everyone, “It’s okay. Remember, in three days He is coming back?” I want to have that commitment to prayer that allows me to see the unseen and believe the unbelievable.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit please help me not allow my flesh to overcome my spirit. Help my spirit to be plugged into your presence, your power, your purpose, and your plan.
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