Luke chapter 22

Theme: Jesus prays on the Mount of Olives

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.

40 On reaching the place, he said to them, Pray that you will not fall into temptation.

41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,

It's almost the destination of Jesus's journey in the world. He chose to pray to pass this precious moment. It comes to my mind that how do we often pass some special moments, like Birthday, New Year, or Farewell night? How do we recognize the meaning of them? To Jesus, although he deeply loved his disciples and all peoples in the world, and although it was the last chance to be with them, he didn't see fireworks with them, or talked with them all night long. Rather, he went out AS USUAL to pray, and even pray more than usual, because what he payed attention to was the harder work after the farewell -- the work for himself on the cross, and also the work for disciples of preaching after he died. Therefore it's the last chance to pray for himself, his lovely disciples and mankind. That's the significance of this precious moment Jesus recognised. I think that we should often ask ourselves, "How much time do I still have? What is the significance of this moment? What is the very thing I should to do right away?"

42 Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. 

43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 

44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

46 Why are you sleeping? he asked them. Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. 

The disciples fell asleep because of their sorrows. By contrast, Jesus also sorrowed, and even was in anguish, but he eventually was strengthened by God. Actually, as a human being, Jesus was not so strong to have no weakness. We can see that he even like a normal man would like to escape a suffering. However, how does he face his pain and go through his struggle? Not to escape into sleep, not to let himself alone, or just to be weakened for a while, but immediately to ask for God's help. That's the only way to get strengthen and to escape from temptations. Sometimes we may say that, "Oh I'm too weak to pray. Please leave me alone to take some rest." Actually, it's impossible to gain any rest and energy in sleep or in wander. Rather, we will fall into temptation without consciousness. Fortunately, the Holy Spirit within us prays for us all the time, like Jesus did for Peter and for all disciples. He prayed for them even when they have fallen asleep. That's why they could stand again later. In brief, we should not fall into sleep due to our sorrows and make Holy Spirit worry about us, but sould try to overcome our anguishes with prayer. In this way, God must deliever his servants come, maybe as some brethrens' words, or maybe as some insights into our minds. In the end, we must be able to be strengthened after heartful prayers.