GETHSEMANE: Stay Awake

It is a small garden, peaceful, quiet oasis… Looks like just the place to get away from the busyness of the city and spend time in prayer.

There we were standing in the garden of Gethsemane.

I could just picture Jesus entering the garden with His disciples.  They had finished the Passover meal and Jesus brought then for a time of prayer.

As I think about Peter, James, and John. They were full from the meal and tired from the day’s activities, even though they likely had good intentions, they did not stay awake.

Jesus was grieved and He had brought these three men to keep watch and pray with Him in this garden.

“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Matthew 26:41

Their failure didn’t stop Jesus. He encouraged them to keep watching and praying and went away a second time to pray.

My Father if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.” Mathew 26:42

The same a third time…they are sleeping and Jesus is praying. His prayer affirmed His surrendered life and gave Him strength to walk the path that God had planned for HIm.

May we also be reminded to keep alert and ready to live out God’s plan for our lives.

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 1 Peter 4:7

 

Easter Traditions

Easter traditions…what are yours? I remember an early get up for  sunrise service out in the cold and beauty of the sun peaking over the horizon as we sang. Of course, a new dress was an important part of my Easter as a child. As was the Easter lunch…especially carrot cake. And I can’t forget the Easter Egg Hunts in the back yard. Such great memories…family traditions define who we are as a family.

As good as traditions are they can become a problem when we are doing things for the sake of the tradition, but have lost sight of the real reason the tradition began. As you celebrate Easter this year, don’t just enjoy the traditions, but consider the reason for the day.

Consider Jesus…

His life…By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

His death…But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. Romans 5:8-9

His resurection…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, as believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10

His living today…Christ Jesus is He who died, and who was raised, and who is at the right hand of God, and who interecedes for us. Romans 8:34

Living He loved me, dying He saved me

And buried He carried my sins far away

Rising He justified freely forever

One day He’s coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day

Read more: CASTING CROWNS – GLORIOUS DAY LYRICS