Luke 22:39-46

Luke 22:39-46 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

We see Jesus in anguish in these scriptures. We see Jesus fully man with all the emotions of a man. He knows the future will bring death to him, trouble to his disciples, and disillusionment to his followers. Within a few hours, everything will be different: the people who greeted him with praise just a few days ago will now want him crucified. People will reject him, viewing him as just another crazy man with ideas of grandeur. Only a few followers will gaze from afar at his last few hours. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. (Luke 23:49) Jesus would be alone in his last moments on Earth. No one would be there to defend him, offer support, or tend to his needs.

Jesus knew the realities of this time. He knew his disciples would be harassed and threatened. He knew they would be tempted not to believe in him. Pray that you will not fall into temptation. However, the disciples were exhausted from sorrow. They had heard too much about what was going to happen to Jesus. They had wept and not prayed. They retreated within themselves and fell asleep, probably in dazed disappointment and sorrow. How often we want to retreat and fall asleep when heavy pressure is upon us. A bed seems a safe escape for the depressed. But Jesus said, get up, get active, pray, pray you might endure these tough times instead of retreating into sleep and rest. Jesus believed in prayer; the disciples were not so sure. They felt their emotional needs were more pressing than ernest prayer.

How much do any of us really believe in prayer? Because of past experiences, do we believe things will go on pretty much as they have in the past. As with the disciples, if Jesus said these troubles are going to happen, why pray? If we are all to die, why pray? Notice, the angel came to minister to him when Jesus prayed. He was in great agony; only an angel could lessen that agony. When we feel we cannot endure a situation any longer, we need the Comforter. Only He can ameliorate the situation. The Holy Spirit has been sent to us to help us endure. Jesus was not delivered from the situation, but He was helped to endure the situation by the angel. We need to know God's voice. If not, we are alone in our garden of pain. If not, we will fall asleep. But with his presence, our heart will be comforted, and we will not fall into temptation. We will know God is alive and we are important to him: He will never leave us or forsake us.

Jesus said, get up. This day in your spirit, get up. Face your enemies and your trials. Pray for your deliverance. Bind things on earth, for they will be bound in heaven. Know for sure that God hears you and that He will do those things you request if you pray according to his will. No, Mt Rainier will never be moved to Spokane just because Christians in that city want it there, but mountains in heaven are moved by the requests of the saints, the children of faith. People are rescued from hellfire. The lost are restored to their heavenly father. Soldiers of the cross are enduring to the end. So, after breakfast, GET UP AND PRAY.