April 12, 2016
DEFENSE . . . DEFENSE . . . DEFENSE
Matthew 26:36–46
Angela Ardis
Central Truth
One of the ways we can overcome temptation is to keep watch and pray.
Key Verse | Matthew 26:41
"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41)
Matthew 26:36–46
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 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.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch 1 26:38 Or keep awake; also verses 40, 41 with me.” 39 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.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. 2 26:45 Or Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Dive Deeper | Matthew 26:36–46
I can only imagine the burden Christ bore on that fateful evening. Picture the scene with me: Jesus had just finished the Last Supper with His disciples. From there, they would have walked out of the city, down into the Kidron Valley, and up onto the Mount of Olives to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, a place Jesus often went with His disciples.
Scripture says that while praying in the Garden, Jesus became anguished and distressed. I imagine that His heart was breaking knowing that He would soon experience physical pain, be separated from and forsaken by His Father, and bear the weight of the world's past, present, and future sins. Having expressed His suffering to God, He ultimately submitted to God's will: "[N]ot as I will, as you will." (Matthew 26:39)
I love the example we learn from Jesus here. In preparing to do the will of the Father, He took time to pray and be strengthened by spending time abiding with God. In contrast to Jesus, the disciples fell asleep despite His request that they be watchful and pray. Would things have turned out differently for Peter if he had remained vigilant and prayerful? Would he have denied Christ three times before the rooster crowed?
In my life, I've fallen in the face of temptation because I didn't shore up my defenses by abiding well with my Heavenly Father. I've also tried to control situations and do things my way instead of submitting to God. That never plays out well. So, I have learned the importance of spending time with Him each morning, "dying to myself," and submitting to and trusting in Him. I can live with hope because He is faithful to provide a way out so that I can endure whatever trials and temptations come along (1 Corinthians 10:13), and I can find rest in Him because He is my fortress, my rock, and my salvation (Psalm 62:1-2). Praise Him for that!
Discussion Questions
1. Have you surrendered your life to God and His will? If not, what is holding you back from being able to say, like Christ, "[N]ot as I will, as you will"?
2. How's your prayer life? Can you recall a time in your life when you faced temptation or a trial with vigilant prayer?
3. What other examples about prayer does Jesus give us? (Start with Matthew 6; John 17; Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; and Luke 5:16, 6:12.)
4. What is one thing you can do today to shore up your defenses against temptation (pray, share with your community group, etc.)?