“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.’ Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’ And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, ‘Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.'” Matthew 26:36-46
The postures in Gethsemane tell much about the will of its cast: Jesus and His disciples. The garden was a natural place of quiet, an invitation to be still and ponder, commune with the King of creation, and pour out deepest needs. This night it was darkened by a shroud of ignorant confusion and drowsiness on the part of the disciples, and looming dread and agonizing sorrow for the Messiah. The will of the disciples was lulled by temporal need, and that of Jesus by His eternal purpose folded into the will of His Father.
How we face any temptation, conundrum, or difficult acceptance or surrender is determined by our mental and spiritual resoluteness. Caught up in the flesh and its temporary demands and impulses, we will succumb to its sway in most circumstances, eschewing God’s higher call. However, when we are focused on pleasing the Father and trusting Him for resolve and resilience in the face of challenge, we will persevere in His strength. We may agonize in letting go of control, or accepting the hard road, but we will have faith to entrust ourselves to God’s high sovereignty.
Do we struggle with spiritual somnolence, choosing to indulge in a bombardment of distractions and opinions and pleasures of the flesh, numb to the devil’s wiles? Are we spiritually ignorant or apathetic, asleep to the Spirit’s convictions and warnings? When was the last time we battled, on our knees, in prayer, and ended with true release, “not my will but Your will be done”? To sit with sinners or slouch in temptation works against a strong stance in God’s good will. (Psalm 1:1-3; Matthew 6:9-10; Luke 22:31-32,42; 1 Peter 5:8)
Lord, keep me spiritually alert and entwine my will wholly with Yours, that Your purposes and name are exalted.
As the rain and snow 