Notes to the Lord:A Last Time of Prayer

Matthew 26
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."

Lord Jesus--I wonder about the steps of Judas during this time. Did he go straight to the temple to his back-room brothers? Were they confident strides that took him to those who were looking to kill you? Did he wander a bit and finally get there.

You asked the disciples to pray. It was late...I am sure there was no coffee on, and there had been constant movement for the last few days with the preparations of the passover being made. They just could not keep their eyes open.

Lord Jesus there are times when prayer is just plain needed. I have the feeling that these men would soon learn this lesson of watching, and praying.

37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."

Lord Jesus--You asked them to watch. There are times when the only things that can be done is to watch and pray...be aware of the leading of the Holy Spirit and to be directed by his gentle leading in the words, thoughts and feelings.

Lord Jesus--So often I want to be doing, action is a part of who I am...and yet there are times when watching and praying is what needs to be done.

Watch what? Watch out for temptation...Watch for the activity of the evil one...watch for the next step of God to evidence...and pray for the energy and the strength to follow where that next step leads.

Lord Jesus--In the garden you were overwhelmed and filled with sorrow. There was sorrow for what was taking place even as you were praying. A soul was slipping away to a place beyond decision...Judas was making his choice. The leadership of the nation was making a choice that would impact the lives of many. There was sorrow for what could have been. The sorrow could have killed you.

Part of what You were asking the disciples to pray for was the physical strength for you to be able to do the will of the Father.

39Going 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."

Lord Jesus--These words spoken in the middle of sorrow and pain must have ripped at the heart of the Father. You were willing to follow where ever the will of the Father lead...no matter what the cost was.

Help me to follow your example...to chase after the will of the Father no matter what.

40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?", he asked Peter.

Lord Jesus--In the your hour of need the men who you specifically asked to watch and pray let you down. I think I understand how they might have felt. Activity somehow seems more important than prayer.

You wanted them to pray for the events and people who would be engaged in the coming battle. They needed to pray for their interactions that the coming hours would lead them to. They needed to pray for you to meet what was just ahead in your journey. Prayer needed to be raised to the Father on behalf of what his children were facing. The powers of evil were in ful force.

41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

There are times when the most important activity that we can engage in is to watch with the eyes of our hearts and to pray with Spirit empowered clarity and wisdom. There are times Lord when there needs to be push to prayer not action.

42He 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."43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Lord Jesus--You prayed repeatedly for the same thing...three times for there to be an option to situation that appeared to be without options. You prayed and committed to the will of the Father three times, and the answer came with the entrance of the betrayer.

Answers to prayer come in many forms, help me to see the answers even when they come dressed in a betrayers clothes.

45Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"