The Garden of Gethsemane
I am continuing my sharing with you what I am learning from the Lenten study 24 Hours That Changed The World by Adam Hamilton.
I am also doing a prayer study using Too Busy NOT To Pray by Bill Hybels. Today the two studies coincided in a discussion of the Kingdom of God and Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Zechariah prophesizes in chapter 14 verse 4 “On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives” and continuing in verse 9 “And the Lord will become king of all the earth; on that day the Lord will be one and His name one.”
Today I was writing a prayer based on the Lord’s Prayer “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.”: “May your reign on earth begin, May I be your subject. Let all you say come to pass. Let me experience your kingdom and will now.”
In a 40 day devotional of the same title, Hamilton writes:
“It is in yielding our hearts and lives to God’s will that we become a part of his kingdom. Take a moment today to yield your heart and life to God, to seek to do His will in your life:God, I accept you as my King. Help me to know and do your will. May my life bring you glory to your name. Amen.”
February is when we focus on friendship. Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, where at its base; the Garden of Gethsemane is found, with his three closest friends: Peter, James and John.
In his book, Hamilton writes:
“The experience of being betrayed, deserted, and denied by his closest friends–this would produce great sorrow in any man. It was doubly true for Jesus because these were his closest companions, men who had been with him for three years, who saw him work miracles and heard him preach… The very fact that they failed the Lord helps me trust that there is grace yet for me when I deny, desert, and betray him.”
He asks his three closest friends to “sit here while I pray”.(Mark 14:32) Jesus had come to this place often to pray, and now he’s there for his prayer of greatest anguish. He knew that soon he would become the greatest act of sacrificial love imaginable–all part of God’s plan. Later in Mark 14:36b Jesus prays “Remove this cup from me” teaching us that is permissible to ask God what we hope and desire; but models for us a prayer of simple trust and submission when he prays: “Yet, not what I want, but what you want.” (Mark 14:36c) Verse 37a continues: “He came and found them sleeping.”. He tells them to keep awake; but a total of three times, he prays and returns to find them sleeping.
Hamilton reflects:
“In the New Testament, “being awake” is a phrase used to describe being spiritually ready, most often for the return of Christ, but also ready to what the Lord needs whenever he needs us. It entails a watchfulness and a way of paying attention to what is happening around us, to the needs of others, and to the direction of the Holy Spirit. We are meant to stay awake and keep watch.”
Have you ever, like me, and like those first disciples, fallen asleep when Christ truly needed you?
Lord, many times my spirit has been willing to do your will; but my flesh has been weak. Help me to stay awake–to listen for your voice and to be used by you to care for your people. Amen.”
So my prayer study and my Lenten study have come full circle. I enjoy sharing my thoughts brought about from these two studies, and I hope you are being encouraged by reading them. As a reminder, this will culminate in launching my course “A Passionate Devotional Life With God Through Worship, Study and Journaling”
on Easter Monday.
To be continued…
Image courtesy of: Seetheholyland.net