“Matthew 26:30-46”

Sunday, June 21, 2020

“After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, “I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.” But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.’ But Peter said to Him, ‘Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.’ All the disciples said the same thing too. Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, ‘My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.’ And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.’ And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.’ Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. Then He came to the 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. Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!’”

---End of Scripture verses---

When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, He placed His disciples in strategic locations to stand guard over Him while He prayed. He placed 8 of the 11 on the outer perimeter (verse 36), and took Peter, James and John into the interior of the garden to “keep watch” (verses 37-38). He had been watching over them and protecting them for three years, and now He wanted them to cover His back for an hour as He poured His broken heart out to His Father. Judas knew this was the Lord’s customary place for prayer, and Jesus knew His betrayer was coming for Him with an armed troop of soldiers and police (John 18:3).

It is heart-rending to read just how much our Lord agonized over the ordeal that lay before Him. Even before He took our nails and bore our sins, Jesus was distressed to the point of death (verse 38). As He prayed that the cup of God’s wrath be taken away from Him (verse 39), His sweat was flowing like blood from His pores (Luke 22:44). He petitioned His Father ardently and repeatedly to deliver Him from this hour. But it was the Father’s will that His Son be “crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). I simply can’t fathom the magnitude of love it would require to voluntarily endure such tribulation.

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (verse 41). Jesus’ three closest friends couldn’t stay awake for one hour and do their Master’s bidding. It would be easy to criticize them but for the fact that I so often fail to do some simple thing that He requires of me. Like them, my weak and fatigued flesh sometimes fails my willing spirit. Luke tells us that these poor fellows were overcome by sleep because they were “exhausted from sorrow” (verse 45). This dreadful night was tough on them too.

The only way for our spirit to triumph over our flesh is to “keep watching and keep praying” (verse 41). “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Please read John 14:1-15 for tomorrow – Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day!

-Louie Taylor

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