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Matthew 26:36-46 (NIV)
Gethsemane
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!”
Accept what God is doing: What came to Jesus to accept? With what temptation did he have to deal?
Oh, Holy Jesus, How it makes my heart ache to read this story again. Knowing in advance the unbelievable suffering that You would have to endure and praying for another way. You were overwhelmed with misery and almost swallowed up with terror and dismay. It would have been so easy for You to just walk away. But you didn’t. In the midst of Your sorrow, You showed Your perfect readiness to bear the load of Your sufferings and You were willing to submit and accept God’s will for our redemption and salvation. Thank You Lord for Your sacrifice and Your great love, mercy and grace. Help me to learn that I need to accept and follow Your will even when my feelings are not happy about it. I may need to do things that are Your will while I am afraid or in the midst of sorry. I pray that the path is not always hard, but if it is, I need to trust in You and accept Your will for my life. In Your Holy Name. Amen