Luke 22:39-46 
Then, accompanied by the disciples, he left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. There he told them, “Pray God that you will not be overcome by temptation.”

He walked away, perhaps a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed this prayer: “Father, if you are willing, please take away this cup of horror from me. But I want your will, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him, for he was in such agony of spirit that he broke into a sweat of blood, with great drops falling to the ground as he prayed more and more earnestly. At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples—only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief.

“Asleep!” he said. “Get up! Pray God that you will not fall when you are tempted.”

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Like the disciples, there have been times when I have closed my eyes in the pain of profound grief…and much to my surprise, sleep came.  Many of us know what it means to be “exhausted from grief”.  It is comforting, in a weird sort of way, to know that others have experienced this also – even Jesus’ disciples.  And because I know that Jesus grieved – and even prayed for God to take the suffering if it fit into His plans – I am comforted and encouraged.  I know that Jesus is with me when I grieve…that to a large degree, He grieves right along with me.

But there is a second part of this passage that is important.  Jesus prepared the disciples for what was next.  A few years ago, Timothy spent more than three months with us and his grandparents. The day before he returned to his family, who then lived in Texas, I held him and talked to him…”remember how much Aunt Debbie and Uncle Greg love you…I packed your 'God' books – tell your mother to read them to you every night…say your prayers – God loves you and He will take care of you…be a good boy and help your mommy…we’ll call you on the telephone and talk.”  Now, we stop most Sunday mornings and let “Grandma E” get out of the car near the front door of the church sanctuary, and then we take the children to their Sunday school classes. "Grandma E" will pause and look toward the little ones in the backseat and say, “Be good kids!”

At the Passover meal and in the Garden, Jesus gave His disciples instructions, to the effect of..."Carry a bag, some cash - and a weapon - so that people won’t think you are common criminals or beggars…pray that you will not be overcome by temptation…stay awake  (and alert to the devil's efforts to distract you!)"

So today, we consider the agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane on “Maundy Thursday” night.  We grieve for all that He had to endure…for us – the rotten, stinkin’ sinners for whom He suffered and died.  And we hear His words [paraphrased]…”be prepared…watch and listen…stay awake and pray with Me…remember how much I love you…we will talk – as often as you like!  Oh…and be good kids!”

It’s a lot to remember…and each of us has trouble consistently living up to all of these directives.  But when you start to falter, think of Jesus…on His knees in the Garden…sweating drops of blood…begging the disciples to stay awake and pray with Him one last night…and loving them anyway, just as He loves each of us.  How can we not do all that we can to uphold our end of things?

Isn’t this the perfect day to recommit our hearts to Jesus?  Will you share in Jesus’ grief…and allow Him to comfort you in whatever circumstances you are enduring?  Will you stay awake with Jesus?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 17, 2014

Matthew 26:36-48
Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John. He was very sad and troubled, and he said to them, “I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me.”

Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, don’t make me suffer by having me drink from this cup.  But do what you want, and not what I want.”

He came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, “Can’t any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? Stay awake and pray that you won’t be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak.”

Again Jesus went to pray and said, “My Father, if there is no other way, and I must suffer, I will still do what you want.”

Jesus came back and found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open. He left them and prayed the same prayer once more.

Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. Get up! Let’s go. The one who will betray me is already here.”

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

When I read this passage today about the disciples falling asleep in the garden, I totally got it. I’m terrible about falling asleep while watching television or a movie…especially after a big meal. Greg says he thinks it is funny…but it’s embarrassing to me that I cannot stay awake.  I suppose I see it as a sign of weakness.

But I also understood how Jesus felt.  It used to be a running game in my family to guess who would fall asleep the fastest after a big dinner…and I have several pictures of relatives “laid out” in recliners and sleeping on couches as evidence that we are pretty good at this!  I understand that feeling of looking around in a group and realizing that virtually everyone else is asleep.  It’s not the end of the world…but it IS something of an odd feeling - a sense of loneliness, and sometimes even a perception of insignificance or unimportance to those who could not stay awake in your company!

There were a lot of disappointments for Jesus on “Maundy Thursday”.  The word “Maundy” is thought to derive from the Latin word “mandatum”…as in “A new commandment I give to you...” -the “mandate” spoken by Jesus that we are to love one another.  Others think it comes from the English word “maund”, which is a derivative of the Latin word “mendicare” or the French word “mendier”...meaning “to beg”.  Jesus did plead with His disciples to stay awake.  He pled with God to take the cup of torture and crucifixion from Him.  And when He realized that the disciples could not even stay awake and pray with Him - knowing how anguished and concerned He was - He must have felt terribly sad and lonely.  Worse yet, when Jesus realized that God was not going to remove this suffering - that He would indeed have to endure the cross - He had to have experienced incredible despair.

So as we think about “Maundy Thursday” and Jesus’ journey to the cross, let’s stay awake and alert.  Let’s join together in prayer today and ask God to give us the strength and courage we need for whatever He has in store for us.  More importantly, let’s ask God to protect us from the devil’s temptations…to give us the fortitude to resist the persuasion to deny Jesus and conform to the world’s ways…to take the easy way out.  Let’s thank God for the indescribable sacrifice of Jesus…and for the assurance that He has never left us for even one minute.

Take some time today to consider the significance of the Last Supper, as well.  Recognize the significance of Jesus’ words…“This is my body…this is my blood.”  When you eat the bread of Holy Communion, think about Jesus’ body – beaten, brutalized and mutilated…for YOU.  Remember that this tiny bite of bread signifies your sins…taken from you by Jesus.  His flesh was broken and demolished so that we could be whole and complete…perfectly without blemish before God.

The juice or wine in which you dip your bread – or drink from a cup – signifies Jesus’ blood pouring out and literally washing away every one of your sins.  By His grace, we will never know that level of suffering…because of His amazing love, we never have to face such indignation. Because of the cross, we don’t ever have to face the darkness of hell.

At times, it may seem like you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders…that your body has been bruised and battered – even mutilated…that your friends or loved ones have “fallen asleep”, denied your existence, or literally betrayed you in some manner.  You may even feel like God has turned His back on you.  When these feelings arise, think of the cross.  Think of “the bread and the cup” and what they represent.  Remind yourself how much Jesus loves you…how much He sacrificed and took upon Himself – for YOU.  Hear His plea to stay awake… to stick by Him.  It’s the least we can do for the One who did EVERYTHING for us.

We’re getting closer to "Black Friday"…and these are dark, desperate days.  But hang on…Easter is coming!  It is important to remember how we get there, for today.  But rest assured that this is not the end of the “story” – it’s only the beginning.  May you feel Jesus’ presence – and His amazing love on this day…and may you stay awake and alert as our journey takes us even nearer to the cross.

©2014 Debbie Robus