Friday, January 19, 2007
One Hour
Knowing what was about to happen, Jesus must have been under tremendous strain as his arrest approached. He went to a place that had been an oasis for Him. During this time of extreme stress, Jesus turned to the Father in prayer.
Interestingly, the garden of Gethsemane was known for its olive trees. Just like the pressure of olives in a press, Jesus was emotionally crushed. He was overcome by sorrow and the burden of His mission. Jesus said to Simon, James and John, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me."
The time when he needed His disciples the most, their humanity failed Him. They were there, but they could not understand His burden. Overcome by exhaustion, they could not stay up with Him to pray even one hour.
Everyone knows the agony of times when we struggle to stay awake to help a friend. Sometimes despite our best effort, we fall asleep. Even those closest to Jesus could not help Him in this hour.
Jesus went a bit further, fell on His face and prayed. He asked the Father to let this burden pass is possible. Ultimately, Jesus prayed that God's will be done. In the key moment, Jesus submitted to the will of His Father. He not only demonstrated submission. He also took responsibility for cleaning up a mess He had not made.
Can you image how Jesus must have felt to return to see His closest followers asleep. He told them how deeps was His sorrow. All He asked was for them to pray and stand with Him for one hour. These were the same men who pledged to die for Him. These were the men He was getting ready to die a horrible death to save. It could have been easy for Jesus to judge them. But He loved these men and understood their limitations. Yet He still challenged them to press beyond their physical limits.
Jesus asked, "Simon, what could ye not watch with me one hour?"
Jesus challenged Simon to be on his guard and to pray. In a few words Jesus accurately described the human condition. Simon is a great example of zeal without power. Jesus said about Simon, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
This happened not once but three times. Jesus from prayer to find His disciples asleep. Their eyes were heavy. The Gospel of Mark indicates that they did not know how to answer Jesus' rebuke.
Being in agony, Jesus prayed and sweated drops like blood. God sent an angel to minister to Jesus. This strengthened Jesus as His time drew near.
The final time that Jesus approached His disciples, He encouraged them to sleep on as if to say that He understood why they were overcome by weakness. Even in a time of extreme stress, Jesus showed love to His disciples.
Interestingly, the garden of Gethsemane was known for its olive trees. Just like the pressure of olives in a press, Jesus was emotionally crushed. He was overcome by sorrow and the burden of His mission. Jesus said to Simon, James and John, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me."
The time when he needed His disciples the most, their humanity failed Him. They were there, but they could not understand His burden. Overcome by exhaustion, they could not stay up with Him to pray even one hour.
Everyone knows the agony of times when we struggle to stay awake to help a friend. Sometimes despite our best effort, we fall asleep. Even those closest to Jesus could not help Him in this hour.
Jesus went a bit further, fell on His face and prayed. He asked the Father to let this burden pass is possible. Ultimately, Jesus prayed that God's will be done. In the key moment, Jesus submitted to the will of His Father. He not only demonstrated submission. He also took responsibility for cleaning up a mess He had not made.
Can you image how Jesus must have felt to return to see His closest followers asleep. He told them how deeps was His sorrow. All He asked was for them to pray and stand with Him for one hour. These were the same men who pledged to die for Him. These were the men He was getting ready to die a horrible death to save. It could have been easy for Jesus to judge them. But He loved these men and understood their limitations. Yet He still challenged them to press beyond their physical limits.
Jesus asked, "Simon, what could ye not watch with me one hour?"
Jesus challenged Simon to be on his guard and to pray. In a few words Jesus accurately described the human condition. Simon is a great example of zeal without power. Jesus said about Simon, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
This happened not once but three times. Jesus from prayer to find His disciples asleep. Their eyes were heavy. The Gospel of Mark indicates that they did not know how to answer Jesus' rebuke.
Being in agony, Jesus prayed and sweated drops like blood. God sent an angel to minister to Jesus. This strengthened Jesus as His time drew near.
The final time that Jesus approached His disciples, He encouraged them to sleep on as if to say that He understood why they were overcome by weakness. Even in a time of extreme stress, Jesus showed love to His disciples.
