Matthew 26:36-46
Jesus & His Disciples Temptation
at Gethsemane
Dialog abbreviated ~ Jesus:
“Watch and pray with Me.”
“My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of
death”
“Keep watch with Me”
“Father, if it’s possible, let this cup pass
from me…but Your will be done”
“Keep watching and praying, so that – you
may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
“Father, if I must drink this cup, Thy will be
done.”
“Are you still sleeping?”
Jesus struggled with BEING God and man, not being sure what
the human man would do and fearing that he would fail. Jesus also struggled with needing God and
pleasing Him, and needing some human support from those he loved and trusted.
Jesus passed in resisting His final temptation. It was to not drink the cup of suffering and
death. He chose The Father’s will. Notice, in Jesus first prayer, He pleaded
with The Father for there to be some other way…to die! He wasn't afraid of death; it was on the way
to it that was the human struggle:
He was betrayed by one of His own.
He was not recognized by the religious
leaders who were suppose to be
serving God, teaching His Word, and following His
commands. These
were the ones who knew the Word, but
did not believe it!
He was cursed, lied about, beaten with
their fists, slapped in the face
and spit on by these same
religious leaders.
All His disciples deserted Him. This meant they hid or stayed at a
distance
or stayed silent.
I think this was John’s guilt; being close but
saying nothing.
Peter denied 3 times even knowing Him.
He was turned over to the Romans who had
the cruelest of punishments
– they stripped him half
naked, put on a robe and mocked Him; pierced
His head with thorns, they
spit on Him, beat him on the head with a
reed; then they beat Him with a whip close
to death. He had to carry
his cross. He was nailed to the cross through his wrists and
feet.
While hanging
on the cross He was continuously mocked & slandered;
his clothes were gambled
for; he was displayed with no dignity or
decency; He was pierced through the side to make sure He was dead;
hanging as a lamb that had been slaughtered!
decency; He was pierced through the side to make sure He was dead;
hanging as a lamb that had been slaughtered!
No one defended Him. The only one who tried to save Him was
Pilate,
and he gave in to the
crowd. I must say, the same crowd that
was
cheering for Him several days before.
The disciples failed their temptation…and Jesus. Had they watched and prayed, they would not
have fallen asleep. Jesus told them to
resist the temptation of the flesh to sleep and to listen to the spirit that
would do as He asked; that would be a devoted friend!
If they had watched Jesus’ agony and prayed
with Him, they would have chosen The Father’s will, too – and not let Jesus go
to the cross alone; they would have stayed by Him and believed even though they
didn't understand.
Have we ever heard these words of Jesus: “Could you not watch with me for one hour?”
Watch to see where God is working that He wants me to join
with Him. Praying for strength; for
confirmation of God’s direction; for God’s will to be done.
Lord, thank You for opening my spiritual eyes
today to see Your agony better; to see the struggle with temptation in the
flesh; to fear what Your human self would do on the way to the cross. It wasn't death You feared – it was the
shame, the betrayal, being deserted by those You loved.
Thank You for showing us how to resist temptation
and choose God’s will for victory over sin, and life abundant with God, The
Trinity. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Praise You!
