PRAYER IN THE GARDEN

A few years ago I stood enraptured on the holy ground of the Olive Grove, the Garden of Gethsemane. It was so still. Quiet. Peaceful. In the twenty-first century, the ancient olive trees are connected by manicured footpaths, but I could easily imagine it on the day Jesus invited Peter, James, and John to join Him in His favorite place of prayer.

“Sit here while I go over there and pray” (Matthew 26:36), Jesus told the three disciples. “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake” (Mark 14:34). Obviously, Jesus knew that in a few hours, He would be nailed to a cross where He would carry the full weight of God’s wrath.

In the distance, Peter, James, and John could hear the passionate pleas of their Master. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).

After a very long day, Peter was weary. He couldn’t keep his heavy eyelids open but drifted off in slumber. Startled, awakened, Jesus stood close. “Couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation” (Matthew 26:40-41).

Again, they listened to one side of the distant conversation between Father and Son. “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done” (Matthew 26:42) and again, they fell asleep. While they slept, Jesus battled in prayer. So excruciating, so agonizing, so terrible was the Lord’s fight, that “His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44).

Three times, Jesus encouraged the disciples to stay awake and pray, and three times, Peter, James, and John drifted off to sleep. “Then he came a third time and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. See, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up; let’s go” (Mark 14:41-42).

When’s the last time we spent an uninterrupted hour in focused, fervent prayer?

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).