Day 25

Events in and around the Last Supper...

Matthew 26:36-46 NIV84

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

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."

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

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."

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

Then 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. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

Where did Jesus go with His disciples? Who did He take aside and confide in?

Re-read the passage and identify the emotions Jesus experienced at Gethsemane. Do you think it should be easy for a Christian to be obedient to God? Do you believe that any struggle to obey, as revealed by your emotions, is a sin?

It is a battle for our flesh to do God's will. Jesus, even in His perfect human form --- untainted by sin --- struggled. What truths can we learn from Jesus about the internal battle for Believers to be obedient? How does He show us to deal with the fight to obey?

Lord, You tell us, "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak," when it comes to obedience. Show me the way to accept this weakness and rely on Your Spirit to do all things. Teach me to watch and pray, so I do not fall into temptation.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV