“The disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
“When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, ‘Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me…’
“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away because of me this night… Peter answered him, ‘Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.’ Peter said to him, ‘Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!’ And all the disciples said the same.
“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.’ And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.’ 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.’ And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’” Matthew 26:19b-21,30-31,33-41
The occasion with Jesus was intimate, and had far deeper meaning than any of the disciples understood at the time: it would be their final meal with their Teacher until the other side of His crucifixion. They brought to the table regular appetite and earthly concerns, and He spoke with spiritual significance. In the garden He issued sober warnings, but Peter, with characteristic impetuosity, exclaimed with bold point! his forever loyalty. Little did he know how weak was his flesh. (Matthew 26:22-29; Luke 22:31-32)
Communion with Jesus is mysterious and wonderful. Our senses mingle with the divine, our spirits garner quickened love and bold faith. But when we mix in the impulses of flesh and an unredeemed personality, we are prone to fail. Passions easily go off course, good intentions turn sour or paralyze altogether. Our exclamation point promises borne of willing spirits hit temptation and fatigue and break under pressure we never saw coming. (Matthew 26:69-75)
What parts of our lives are lived with enthusiastic exclamation? How zealous are we for Jesus, and how well does that zeal fulfill our commitments made? Do we make promises to serve and sacrifice for Him, but renege on steadfastness and faithfulness among worldly concerns, fear, or exhaustion? Where is our resolve weak, and what specific help will we seek from God to strengthen it? (Mark 4:16-19)
“O to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart; O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.” ~Robert Robertson (1758)
Father, keep my passions pure and promises sure that I never stop holding You high.
As the rain and snow 