Watch And Pray
Preaching
What Jesus Did:
The Answer To WWJD
In the last chapter we considered the Gethsemane experience from Jesus' personal perspective. His battle was the battle we all face sooner or later -- not my will, but God's will. But Jesus was not the only one in a battle on this night. The disciples were also in grave danger. The difference between Jesus and the disciples is that while Jesus realized the critical nature of the moment, the disciples were oblivious, or in our vernacular today, clueless. Let's look at the Gethsemane experience from the perspective of the disciples, what they saw, and what they should have seen.
The disciples saw Jesus agitated and distressed. They saw the ritual of the Last Supper. They heard Jesus foretell the betrayal. But somehow they didn't understand. Jesus asks them to pray with him in the Garden. "Watch with me." Jesus wanted partners in prayer. That hasn't changed. We have seen the power of one person in prayer: Daniel, Elijah, Moses. Jesus also exalts corporate prayer. "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20 NIV). "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:19 NIV). "Whatever you [plural] bind on earth is bound in heaven" (Matthew 18:18 NIV). Jesus wants us to be in prayer together. That is why we need to prioritize our times of prayer.
• Do you prefer personal prayer or group prayer? Why?
Jesus wanted prayer partners back then. Nothing has changed his desire for us to be his prayer partners now. Imagine what can happen if we will commit to being prayer partners with Jesus and with fellow believers. Partners means we will be praying when we are apart as well as when we are together. Unfortunately, despite Jesus' request, the disciples decided it was time to sleep. They did not see a time to pray but a time for slumber. I have to admit, I have had this happen. But this was not the right time for relaxing. Can we blame them? It was late at night. The Passover meal was long and included several glasses of wine. They listened to Jesus' extensive discourses. They needed to rest. Their fatigue dulled their senses and they did not see the significance of the time.
Jesus comes back and upbraids them, "Could you not watch one hour?" (Matthew 26:40). Have you ever spent an hour in prayer? That is a long time to pray, but in some circumstances it is too short. Periodically, we should commit to a prolonged time for prayer, an hour or two. There is more than enough to pray about. Our own sins need to be confessed. God is worthy of extended times of praise, thanksgiving, and adoration. Give thanks for all the blessings God has given us. Pray for family, friends, neighbors. Pray for the lost, the missions, the unsaved, and the unchurched. Pray for the city, state, and nation. Pray for our church. Pray through the directory for each member. We can see that an hour is hardly too long.
• How long would it take you to pray about all of the issues you can think of?
So this was the disciple' perspective. They see a night of feasting and celebration. They see Jesus in a troubled mood. "He was strange at the supper with that bread and body and wine and blood stuff, wasn't he?" "He's not himself." They see an announcement of betrayal, but they don't know who it is or what it is about. They see Jesus sharing his feelings about death, but why should he be thinking about death? They are full. It has been a busy day and a night. They needed some sleep. What they did not see was the critical nature of the hour.
Jesus saw what they could not see. The disciples had been warned, but they just didn't seem to grasp the reality. They didn't have a clue, they did not comprehend, they did not appreciate the extreme significance of this night. This was a night of spiritual battle and warfare. Satan and his forces were making an all-out attack against Jesus and his forces. This was the window of opportunity that Satan had been waiting for. This was Satan's one chance to kill Jesus and stop him from messing up his little kingdom on earth. Jesus knew who was behind it. Jesus says, "The ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father" (John 14:30 NRSV). In Luke 22:53, Jesus, speaking to those who had come to arrest him, says, "This is your hour, and the power of darkness" (NRSV). The battle was not only on the earthly plane, but in the spiritual realm as well. Luke records that Satan had entered Judas and found an inside man to betray Jesus. Satan was inspiring the jealousy, envy, and indignation of the Sanhedrin.
• Can you name a time in your life when you realized the situation you were facing was a spiritual battle, not a physical conflict?
Jesus knew what was coming, but the disciples did not see. Jesus tried to warn them. "Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41 NRSV). The disciples were targets of Satan as well. In Luke, Jesus tells Peter, "Satan has asked to sift you as wheat" (Luke 22:31 NIV). He has been warning the disciples that the rulers would be seeking his life. They were aware of the danger in general, but they were not aware of the danger of this night. The disciples were reasonably aware of the threat from earthly enemies, but had no idea about the danger from spiritual enemies.
This was the hour of trial or temptation. Notice how Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane continues to follow the model prayer he taught his disciples.1 "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil." Now is the time to pray that prayer, now is the time of temptation and trial. Jesus' temptation and trial is to abandon God's plan for the Messiah and do it his way. He could have called 10,000 angels, but he didn't. He could have exercised his own will, but he didn't. Jesus prays about his hour of trial and temptation. He comes out of his time in prayer prepared to do God's will, whatever that might be.
• Can you name a time when your prayer helped avoid temptation?
The disciples' hour of trial is also at hand. Their test is: Will they stick with Jesus or will they abandon him? Or worse, will they join in the betrayal? Their test is: Now that Jesus has been arrested and killed, will they still keep faith? Their test is: When Jesus is being arrested, what will they do? Will they stand up for Jesus?
Jesus prayed himself to victory. The disciples slept themselves into bitter defeat. Peter failed to pray. He wound up denying Jesus three times. The others failed to pray. They wound up fleeing from the arresting party. They had to hide from the authorities out of fear. Sooner or later, your test will come. Are you prepared? Your boss will ask you to give up your Sundays. Your work mates will tell you to stop talking about Jesus. Satan will come to sift you as wheat. You may lose your health. You may lose your job. You may lose your possessions. You may be arrested on trumped-up charges. You may be sued by someone who slips on your front walk.
Faith is tested regularly to see if it is genuine, real, rooted. The only way we can prepare for the faith test is by keeping in prayer. Prayer keeps us connected to Jesus. We know who to turn to in our hour of testing. Prayer also keeps us connected to each other. We do not have to struggle alone against temptation and trial. You don't have to go it alone. There is much comfort in knowing that you have people praying for you. There is also increased power.
• What kind of testing are you going through right now?
The disciples did not see the spiritual war taking place. Do we? Is racism just a human thing, or is that kind of deep hatred inspired by something more sinister? Is sexism just a human thing, or is there a demonic power that keeps it alive? Satan hasn't changed. He still wars against God's people as much as he warred against the disciples and the early church. Jesus hasn't changed. He still calls us to watch and pray with him that we will not enter into the time of trial.
Human beings haven't changed. We are companions with the disciples. Our spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. I know you have good intentions about prayer. You want to pray. You try to pray. I also know about interruptions. The phone. The children. The wife or husband. The boss. That one other project. The flesh will always get in the way of the spirit. We must overcome the flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit. If we would have the victory in the Spirit, which will lead to the victory over the flesh, we must be people of prayer.
The hour is now at hand. Jesus is about to be arrested. We can see the difference prayer makes. "Then he came to the disciples and said to them, '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. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand' " (Matthew 26:45-46 NRSV). Jesus is ready to go. He is ready to meet the betrayer and the arresting party face to face. The disciples are sleepy, groggy, drowsy, unprepared for the trial that awaits them.
Prayer can make that kind of difference in our lives. It is worth getting up a little earlier, clearing part of the schedule, and making time for the spirit to overcome the flesh in prayer. Prayer can be the difference between a good day and a bad day. Prayer can be the difference between coping well with a bad day and being totally defeated by a bad day. Jesus says to us, as he said to them, "Watch and pray with me."
WWJD -- Pray for one hour.
____________
1.ÊBrown, Ibid., p. 176.
The disciples saw Jesus agitated and distressed. They saw the ritual of the Last Supper. They heard Jesus foretell the betrayal. But somehow they didn't understand. Jesus asks them to pray with him in the Garden. "Watch with me." Jesus wanted partners in prayer. That hasn't changed. We have seen the power of one person in prayer: Daniel, Elijah, Moses. Jesus also exalts corporate prayer. "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20 NIV). "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:19 NIV). "Whatever you [plural] bind on earth is bound in heaven" (Matthew 18:18 NIV). Jesus wants us to be in prayer together. That is why we need to prioritize our times of prayer.
• Do you prefer personal prayer or group prayer? Why?
Jesus wanted prayer partners back then. Nothing has changed his desire for us to be his prayer partners now. Imagine what can happen if we will commit to being prayer partners with Jesus and with fellow believers. Partners means we will be praying when we are apart as well as when we are together. Unfortunately, despite Jesus' request, the disciples decided it was time to sleep. They did not see a time to pray but a time for slumber. I have to admit, I have had this happen. But this was not the right time for relaxing. Can we blame them? It was late at night. The Passover meal was long and included several glasses of wine. They listened to Jesus' extensive discourses. They needed to rest. Their fatigue dulled their senses and they did not see the significance of the time.
Jesus comes back and upbraids them, "Could you not watch one hour?" (Matthew 26:40). Have you ever spent an hour in prayer? That is a long time to pray, but in some circumstances it is too short. Periodically, we should commit to a prolonged time for prayer, an hour or two. There is more than enough to pray about. Our own sins need to be confessed. God is worthy of extended times of praise, thanksgiving, and adoration. Give thanks for all the blessings God has given us. Pray for family, friends, neighbors. Pray for the lost, the missions, the unsaved, and the unchurched. Pray for the city, state, and nation. Pray for our church. Pray through the directory for each member. We can see that an hour is hardly too long.
• How long would it take you to pray about all of the issues you can think of?
So this was the disciple' perspective. They see a night of feasting and celebration. They see Jesus in a troubled mood. "He was strange at the supper with that bread and body and wine and blood stuff, wasn't he?" "He's not himself." They see an announcement of betrayal, but they don't know who it is or what it is about. They see Jesus sharing his feelings about death, but why should he be thinking about death? They are full. It has been a busy day and a night. They needed some sleep. What they did not see was the critical nature of the hour.
Jesus saw what they could not see. The disciples had been warned, but they just didn't seem to grasp the reality. They didn't have a clue, they did not comprehend, they did not appreciate the extreme significance of this night. This was a night of spiritual battle and warfare. Satan and his forces were making an all-out attack against Jesus and his forces. This was the window of opportunity that Satan had been waiting for. This was Satan's one chance to kill Jesus and stop him from messing up his little kingdom on earth. Jesus knew who was behind it. Jesus says, "The ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father" (John 14:30 NRSV). In Luke 22:53, Jesus, speaking to those who had come to arrest him, says, "This is your hour, and the power of darkness" (NRSV). The battle was not only on the earthly plane, but in the spiritual realm as well. Luke records that Satan had entered Judas and found an inside man to betray Jesus. Satan was inspiring the jealousy, envy, and indignation of the Sanhedrin.
• Can you name a time in your life when you realized the situation you were facing was a spiritual battle, not a physical conflict?
Jesus knew what was coming, but the disciples did not see. Jesus tried to warn them. "Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41 NRSV). The disciples were targets of Satan as well. In Luke, Jesus tells Peter, "Satan has asked to sift you as wheat" (Luke 22:31 NIV). He has been warning the disciples that the rulers would be seeking his life. They were aware of the danger in general, but they were not aware of the danger of this night. The disciples were reasonably aware of the threat from earthly enemies, but had no idea about the danger from spiritual enemies.
This was the hour of trial or temptation. Notice how Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane continues to follow the model prayer he taught his disciples.1 "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil." Now is the time to pray that prayer, now is the time of temptation and trial. Jesus' temptation and trial is to abandon God's plan for the Messiah and do it his way. He could have called 10,000 angels, but he didn't. He could have exercised his own will, but he didn't. Jesus prays about his hour of trial and temptation. He comes out of his time in prayer prepared to do God's will, whatever that might be.
• Can you name a time when your prayer helped avoid temptation?
The disciples' hour of trial is also at hand. Their test is: Will they stick with Jesus or will they abandon him? Or worse, will they join in the betrayal? Their test is: Now that Jesus has been arrested and killed, will they still keep faith? Their test is: When Jesus is being arrested, what will they do? Will they stand up for Jesus?
Jesus prayed himself to victory. The disciples slept themselves into bitter defeat. Peter failed to pray. He wound up denying Jesus three times. The others failed to pray. They wound up fleeing from the arresting party. They had to hide from the authorities out of fear. Sooner or later, your test will come. Are you prepared? Your boss will ask you to give up your Sundays. Your work mates will tell you to stop talking about Jesus. Satan will come to sift you as wheat. You may lose your health. You may lose your job. You may lose your possessions. You may be arrested on trumped-up charges. You may be sued by someone who slips on your front walk.
Faith is tested regularly to see if it is genuine, real, rooted. The only way we can prepare for the faith test is by keeping in prayer. Prayer keeps us connected to Jesus. We know who to turn to in our hour of testing. Prayer also keeps us connected to each other. We do not have to struggle alone against temptation and trial. You don't have to go it alone. There is much comfort in knowing that you have people praying for you. There is also increased power.
• What kind of testing are you going through right now?
The disciples did not see the spiritual war taking place. Do we? Is racism just a human thing, or is that kind of deep hatred inspired by something more sinister? Is sexism just a human thing, or is there a demonic power that keeps it alive? Satan hasn't changed. He still wars against God's people as much as he warred against the disciples and the early church. Jesus hasn't changed. He still calls us to watch and pray with him that we will not enter into the time of trial.
Human beings haven't changed. We are companions with the disciples. Our spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. I know you have good intentions about prayer. You want to pray. You try to pray. I also know about interruptions. The phone. The children. The wife or husband. The boss. That one other project. The flesh will always get in the way of the spirit. We must overcome the flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit. If we would have the victory in the Spirit, which will lead to the victory over the flesh, we must be people of prayer.
The hour is now at hand. Jesus is about to be arrested. We can see the difference prayer makes. "Then he came to the disciples and said to them, '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. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand' " (Matthew 26:45-46 NRSV). Jesus is ready to go. He is ready to meet the betrayer and the arresting party face to face. The disciples are sleepy, groggy, drowsy, unprepared for the trial that awaits them.
Prayer can make that kind of difference in our lives. It is worth getting up a little earlier, clearing part of the schedule, and making time for the spirit to overcome the flesh in prayer. Prayer can be the difference between a good day and a bad day. Prayer can be the difference between coping well with a bad day and being totally defeated by a bad day. Jesus says to us, as he said to them, "Watch and pray with me."
WWJD -- Pray for one hour.
____________
1.ÊBrown, Ibid., p. 176.
