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April 26, 2018

Matthew 26:39-41

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

New International Version (NIV)

                 Olive trees live a long time. When we went to the Mount of Olives in 2000, they said that some of the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane had been there 2000 years ago. This intrigued me. When Jesus prayed so fervently, it might have been under one of those very trees. When we saw Gordon’s Calvary and an empty tomb I had a similar thought. Did my Savior suffer, die and rise to life right here? It was overwhelming.

                Whether or not the trees are the same ones, there is no question that our Savior prayed on that hillside overlooking the ancient city. There he made sure his own obedience to the Father through prayer. Spurgeon wrote, “Then came that desperate struggle in which the great Captain of our salvation wrestled even to a bloody sweat and prevailed.”

                While Jesus agonized, his narcoleptic disciples dozed. They wanted to pray, but they could not bring themselves to that point. I am more like them than not. Where is the urgency and the desperation in our prayers? The writer of Hebrews says, “He offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death . . .” (5:7). Stronger than mythical Atlas, our suffering Savior bore the full weight of the sins of humanity on his shoulders as he went willingly to a crimson cross.

                Our endurance in prayer may well be the best evidence to predict our perseverance in Christ. The Psalmist said, “But I am an olive tree in the house of God . . .” God’s house is a house of prayer. When all the olive trees on Gethsemane are gone, the effects of our prayers today will remain. Let’s pray like our lives and the lives of those we love depend on it. Cry out to God. Surrender to his will. Stand the test of time.

Pray with me:

Father, my eyes are dry. My faith is old. My heart is hard. My prayers are cold. I know how I ought to be: alive to you and dead to me. Oh, what can be done for an old heart like mine? Soften it up with olive oil and wine. The oil is you, your Spirit of love. Please wash me anew in the wine of your blood. Through Christ we pray. Amen.

This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story. With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
Joyfully,
Duane

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