Sit here while I pray.

Stay here and keep watch with me.

Watch and pray.

The hour has come, rise.

Rise!  Let’s go.

                                           –Jesus

It is the beginning of the Finish.  Jesus, who is Son of Man and Son of God, knew what was about to happen.  As the Son of Man, he knew the pain that would be inflicted.  “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.”  The cup of responsibility for the salvation of the sins of the world was heavy on his shoulders.  His shoulders would carry all the sins of everyone to the cross.  So, we realize it wasn’t about the pain, but the sin Jesus would carry that overwhelmed Him with extreme sorrow.  He, who knew NO sin, now would carry the sins of the world.  If there is some other way…then let’s do that, Jesus prays.  

But the Son of God knew there was no other way.

The scenario of our salvation was foretold in much detail by the prophets.  Jesus knew every detail before experiencing what was about to happen.  His disciples, even his closest beloved friends, did not quite understand…yet.  Their weariness overcame them.  They fell asleep.

Imagine being asked to pray with Jesus!  But you are so tired, you can’t even….  His followers were about to make choices that would change their lives forever.  But, for now, they fell asleep.  They didn’t realize the temptations to run and hide were to come in a few hours.  They didn’t know that most of them would run from protecting Jesus.  They still didn’t realize that one of them sold Jesus out for a few coins.  They just went to sleep. 

Matthew 26

Gethsemane

³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

⁴³ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

⁴⁵ Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

THINK ABOUT IT…

Yes, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  We all know that.  For our own flesh is weak even though we have willing intentions to please God.  So, we come full circle back to the direct commands of Jesus that we began with today.  His imperative statements leap off the page for us!

“Sit here with Me, keep watch with Me, pray with Me.”  THIS is the kind of intimacy with God that Jesus is demonstrating for us before He goes to the cross to reconcile all of us to God!  Being so intimately related to God through His Son, Jesus in this way helps us avoid temptations to run from Him, His teachings and instructions to live life for His glory and our good.  Our intimate, loving, knowing relationship with Jesus draws us closer and closer to God. When it is time for God to work through us, Jesus will give us our marching orders, “Rise, GO with Me.”  So, we daily sit, watch, pray with readiness until then.  Wow, what a message to our hearts, minds and souls today!

HOLY PAUSE

When and how has “the hour” come for you in your walk?  Did you rise or run?  This is a sobering thought, isn’t it? 

We must evaluate where we are in our relationship with Jesus often.  Why, because when we do, we grow deeper in our love and more intimate with Him when we do.  Life begins to make sense.  The peace of Christ settles our souls.

Abba Father,

I repent of running when I needed to just sit with You, wait for You so I could rise and go with You.  I don’t want to go my own way, but my flesh is weak.  Help me to listen closely.  Help me to be still and wait, watch and pray in Your Holy Name.  Then help me to rise and go when YOU say.  Heal my sleepiness and avoidance of facing what I should face in this life.  Help me to avoid all temptations to turn from you.  I know you are with me.  Please give me wisdom, insight and understanding.  Direct my life.  May all I think, do or say be for your glory.  I love you, Lord.  Thank you for taking and drinking the cup, dear Jesus.  May YOUR WILL be done.

In Jesus Name, Amen.  I believe.