by David Holder

When troubled, many of us have a place we choose to be if we can. This is a place of solitude and security where we can sort things out, think, and pray.Jesus had such a place on the Mount of Olives, in a garden called Gethsemane. It was Jesus’ custom to go there (Luke 22:39) and meet with His disciples (John 18:2). “In the night in which He was betrayed,” as Paul’s now-familiar words describe it (1 Corinthians 11:23), Jesus was in

Jesus, ever sensitive to His “hour,” knew the time had come to do His saving work. Refocusing the Passover meal, Jesus established for His followers a memorial of His death. “And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matthew 23:30). Coming to

Despite what He knew about His disciples’ falling away (Matthew 26:31-35) and His disappointment over the weakness of their flesh (v. 40-41, 43-45), when the “hour” arrived Jesus faced it with courage and trust, in full confidence that what the Scriptures said he would do (v. 53-54). The Father’s will had been expressed; Jesus was ready to comply.

Though it is impossible to know the intricacies of the divine human combination of Jesus’ qualities, clearly He struggled in Gethsemane as a man (Luke 22:44). Not exercising His divine prerogatives (Matthew 26:53), but strengthened by an angel from heaven (Luke 22:43), Jesus met the arresting horde prepared to drink the cup given Him by the Father (John 18:11). Is there not here a key to victory in our own battles? With the help of God, we may prevail in our struggles by knowledge of and commitment to the will of our Father.

THE DISCIPLES’ STRUGGLE

Jesus’ disciples did not fare so well inGethsemane. These were brave men, ready to die with Jesus (Matthew 26:31-35) or take up the sword in His defense (26:51). But their understanding of Jesus’ mission was clouded and their flesh was weak. These were men facing temptation who desperately needed to watch and pray.The disciples’ struggles were not unlike some of our own. In facing their struggles, the men did not yet have sufficient knowledge of Scripture. They did not prepare themselves for temptation. They did not pray fervently as Jesus did. I have no doubt they intended to, but their eyes were heavy and sleep came. While Jesus was shaping His will to the Father’s will, the disciples were sleeping.When one of their own number came to located Jesus for the soldiers, the disciples were so ill prepared that first they appropriately lashed out with weapons, then they all “led Him and fled.” Their struggle that night was lost. Most of us have lost several of our own. The reason is that we do not arm ourselves with Scripture, nor watch and pray that we might not enter temptation. We are sleeping when we should be praying.

Will you join me in preparing for struggles yet to come that with the help of God we might stand firm? Too often we leave our Lord and flee. Right now, before the heat of the moment, we must shape our wills after His will. Only then may we be ready to say, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

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-On A Lighter- Note Seven days without prayer makes one weak