Matthew 26:36-41
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
When Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray, he asked the disciples to stay awake with him (verse 38). But they could not stay awake, so Jesus had to face his sorrow alone. Upon finding the disciples asleep He says: "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (verse 41). This is an apt description of us: our spirit is willing, but our flesh (or physical strength and discipline) is weak. We want to do the right thing, but our actions don't match our intentions. But the weakness is not a guarantee of failure, it is just a reminder of our broken humanity. Jesus exhorts his disciples (and us) to "watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation". We need to be alert and on guard against our weaknesses in order to stay strong.
Lord, help me to watch and pray, that my actions may match my desire.
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
When Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray, he asked the disciples to stay awake with him (verse 38). But they could not stay awake, so Jesus had to face his sorrow alone. Upon finding the disciples asleep He says: "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (verse 41). This is an apt description of us: our spirit is willing, but our flesh (or physical strength and discipline) is weak. We want to do the right thing, but our actions don't match our intentions. But the weakness is not a guarantee of failure, it is just a reminder of our broken humanity. Jesus exhorts his disciples (and us) to "watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation". We need to be alert and on guard against our weaknesses in order to stay strong.
Lord, help me to watch and pray, that my actions may match my desire.