Throughout the season of Lent our daily devotions have been written by members of the Faith Lutheran community. Our theme this Lent is “Jesus Our Healer.” Today’s devotion comes from Peggy Porter.
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.”
He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him.
He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.” Mark 14:32-42
Jesus takes his disciples Peter, James and John to the Garden of Gethsemane where He needed to pray because His soul was very sorrowful. He instructs them to “watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38). The disciples fell asleep, three times, while Jesus went off a ways to pray to His Abba Father in Heaven that this cup of suffering (the cross which looms ahead) would pass from Him but He also prays “yet not what I will, but what You will.” After this last prayer the betrayer and soldiers were there to take Jesus away.
Today, we see the sinful men who cannot stay awake but who fell asleep in the midst of Jesus’ great suffering. The flesh indeed is weak! The only one who is completely faithful in His love and service to God and mankind is JESUS!
He does not shrink away from His call to suffer for the sin of the world. He is and will be faithful to the end. Thanks be to God that this cup of suffering is not removed from Him and given to us instead to drink.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, I thank You for suffering the punishment of sin for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Daily Devotions 
April 1, 2015 at 7:54 pm |
In Jesus’ human form of a man, He feels the same fear and pain we all would and He prays, “let this cup pass from me”. His spirit is willing but His flesh is weak. But Jesus knows what He must do to save humankind, and He prays, “not what I will but what You will.”
Because of His obedience to God and His ultimate sacrifice for mankind, we are saved. Thanks be to God!
April 2, 2015 at 9:45 am |
A Men