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Tag Archives: Garden of Gethsemane

Peter & John — Mark 14:50

17 Oct

Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away.
Mark 14:50

Dear God, I wonder how this would have played out if any of them had stayed and taken with him. Would we have a whole new respect for someone like Thomas? Would that person have been crucified too or just tortured?

I guess I like to look at a lot of what ifs, but it’s because, in a case like this, I’m curious to see a colossal failure by the disciples and understand what would have happened if at least some of them hadn’t failed. What would have changed for Jesus if he had seen one of his disciples beaten while he was going through his own trial, beating, and crucifixion?

Father, at the end of the day, I suppose stories like this encourage me because they intimate that your plan is John-proof. My failings have already been worked into your plan. That doesn’t guarantee me anything, but in the grand scheme of what you have for the world there is a certain amount of relief for me that my shortcomings, while certainly material, won’t keep you from accomplishing what you want to accomplish. You need me to work. You need me to pray. You need my whole heart, mind, and strength, but for the occasional moment that I scatter with the disciples, there is grave for that too. Thank you for everything.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on October 17, 2018 in Mark, Peter and John

 

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Peter & John — Mark 14:32-42

16 Oct

32 They *came to a place named Gethsemane; and He *said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” 33 And He *took with Him Peter and [n]James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. 34 And He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” 35 And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might [o]pass Him by. 36 And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” 37 And He *came and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Again He went away and prayed, saying the same [p]words. 40 And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. 41 And He *came the third time, and *said to them, “[q]Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being [r]betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”

Dear God, I wonder what Peter, James, and John were praying (before they fell asleep). I wonder what Jesus wanted them to be praying. According to Jesus in verse 38, at least Peter should have been praying to not come into temptation.

I would imagine that their prayers were kind of along the lines of, “Father, I don’t know what is going on, but I’m scared. If this is the preparation for the battle with Rome, strengthen me and be with us. Give us victory. Let your glory reign and bring the entire world into submission to you. Be with Jesus and strengthen him as he leads us.”

Here, however, in retrospect, is how they probably should have prayed: “Father, I don’t know what is going on and I’m scared. Jesus seems scared too. Please be with him. Strengthen him. And give me the strength that I need to go through whatever lies ahead. Help me to glorify you with everything I say and do. Provide for this path that you have us on so that your name, above all names, will be glorified by everyone in the world.”

Frankly, in my life right now, I don’t have much more of an idea of what is going on around me than they did. Sure, the stakes for their situation were a lot higher than mine, but I think the sentiment should always be the same.

Father, I don’t know what is going on and I’m scared. Give me the strength I need to go through whatever lies ahead. Help me to glorify you with everything I say and do. Provide for this path that you have my wife and me on so that your name, above all names, will be glorified by everyone in the world.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 

 
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Posted by on October 16, 2018 in Mark, Peter and John

 

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Peter & John — Mark 14:27-31

15 Oct

On the way, Jesus told them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” “No!” Peter declared emphatically. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the others vowed the same.
Mark 14:27-31

Dear God, I’ve talked before about Peter and his moment here, but I guess what I’m thinking about now is the last verse listed here: And all the others vowed the same.

Did they, or was that Peter’s perception? Did some of them stand there quietly and secretly wish they had already left? I think that would have been me. When Jesus said that all of them would abandon him, I’ll bet there were at least a couple who were relieved that 1.) they would get a chance to get out of there and 2.) they weren’t alone.

While I know I can relate to all of this, I’m sitting here now trying to think of how I can use it in my daily life. What lesson can I learn? Frankly, I think I can take from it that I need to remember that there are probably others feeling the same way I am in a group, even if their thoughts at the time are like mine and unspoken. Instead of just putting up a brave front, bluffing, and saying, “Yeah, me too,” I need to think through my truth, figure out if I should screw up my courage or follow my feelings and retreat, and then help others around me who might be feeling the same.

Father, help me in this. I’m back at work today after being gone for two weeks. Encourage others through me. Lead them through me. Break this all down so that I will be the man you need me to be for everyone around me.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on October 15, 2018 in Mark, Peter and John

 

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Peter & John — Matthew 26:36-46

14 Sep

36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away[f] unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

Matthew 26:36-46

 

Dear God, I wonder why Jesus singled out the Peter, James and John to go with him to pray. And then, after they fell asleep, he singled out Peter among the three of them. He seemingly allowed James and John to keep sleeping. But “he said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

 

I don’t think I’ve ever noticed before that Jesus admonishes Peter to pray not for Jesus and what he’s about to experience, but for Peter himself. Maybe he wasn’t worried as much about John and James. He knew that John would follow him all of the way to the cross. But Peter was about to be sifted and ripped apart and he didn’t know it. He didn’t know what the heck was going on.

 

I’ve noticed in myself lately an apathy towards worshipping you throughout the day. You’ve done some amazing things for me both professionally and personally over the summer, and I guess I am not feeling like I deserve a little “me time.” And by “me time” I mean self-indulgence. I want to do things that artificially stimulate me. I want to listen to “fun” music as opposed to worshipful music. I want to dive headlong into watching college football even though a day of watching it alone will leave me feeling empty and unsatisfied. I want to eat out with friends and coworkers. In short, I’m fat and happy, and I apparently don’t feel the need for you. It’s probably as much or more of a time of prayer as ever, but I am asleep in the garden. Am I like John and unknowingly prepared to follow you to the cross, or am I like Peter and I should be in absolute prayer against falling into temptation?

 

Father, there are more subtleties to this story that I realized. When I look at it focused on Peter, James, and John instead of focusing on Jesus’ experience I am learning things I didn’t expect. So that you for what you are teaching me. Thank you for calling me back to you even though I can be so faithless. Help me to keep from falling into temptation. Help me to be strong for you and your Kingdom. Help me to be your servant in all things. I need you, Father. Help me.

 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

 

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 14, 2018 in Matthew, Peter and John

 

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