Hello Advent Family,

 

When we walk through tough times in life it often feels like no one else can understand our pain. That’s why Matthew 26 is such an encouraging passage to me. Jesus, went through the incredible pain of betrayal, and suffering, perhaps even worse, He knew it was coming. Let’s look at the passage of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane together today. 

 

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 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.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer

 

Jesus says that His soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Perhaps you have felt that way before. Knowing that Jesus has struggled with great anguish helps when you are crying out to Him in prayer. In the midst of this struggle it even felt like Jesus’ best friends left Him hanging. They fell asleep as He was praying and pouring out His heart. Perhaps you have felt abandoned in a time of struggle or pain. Know that there is a friend who will never leave you and who understands your pain in Jesus. He models for us turning to God in prayer in the midst of that pain. It seems as though when He goes the third time to God in prayer something changes. He is no longer despondent but resolved. God is with Him and will be with Him throughout His journey. May we all rest in that truth and the truth that Jesus knows our struggle and will lovingly walk through it with us every step of the way. Something tells me He won’t fall asleep.

 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave