April 2, 2026, the 92nd day of 2026
Watch And Wait
Tonight our church is doijg a Gethsemane remembrance, as each set of people come and are keeping watchful silence, praying, contemplating, Bible re... View MoreApril 2, 2026, the 92nd day of 2026
Watch And Wait
Tonight our church is doijg a Gethsemane remembrance, as each set of people come and are keeping watchful silence, praying, contemplating, Bible reading or inspirational readings for 45 minite s
egments until Midnight.
For me, it was reading the Gethsemane story in each of the gospels and beginning this post. I had to finish it when we got home.
Some came earlier and are staying longer. We are in a beautiful part of the church with candles lit and incense burning.
When I think of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, facing what we cannot even imagine facing, nor can I pretend to have any idea of what He was going through, it always gets to me. Allowing ourselves to stop, and just think about it makes it even more . But I can read about what was written and let that sink in during the silence.
It is comforting to have our closest friends with us when we are facing hardships. They may not be able to help in any other way than to be there. But that matters.
To be one of the three of the inner circle of Jesus, would be especially important to be there for Him at that time, supporting Him.
Each of the gospels gives an account of some of the time in Gethsemane. I am going to share each one, the same time, but how the Holy Spirit moved each author.
I am going to add a few thoughts after each reading, not a lot, just some things that caught my attention reading it this way.
Matthew:
"Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, 'Sit here while I go and pray over there.' And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.' He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, 'O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.' Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, 'What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.' Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, 'O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.' And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.'”
Matthew 26:36-46
I find Matthew pretty straight forward. Mentioning a conversation with Peter, individually, knowing that soon he will deny Him, shows the warning should have been taken seriously. And how many tines have we used those words of warning? "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."
Mark:
"Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, 'Sit here while I pray.' And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.' He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.' Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, 'Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak'. Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. Then He came the third time and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.'”
Mark 14:32-42
Mark highlights a bit more of the Son with the Father, even using the term of endearment, "Abba", Daddy. And including Jesus claiming that since God could do anything, He could stop this from needing to be done. But Jesus knew that whatever the outcome of His prayers, He was willing to do the will of the Father. That battle had to be won before Jesus faced the next battles.
The fact that the disciples eyes were heavy and that they couldn't answer Him, showed how much sleep really had overtaken them.
Luke
"Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, 'Pray that you may not enter into temptation.' And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, 'Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.' Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. Then He said to them, 'Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.'
Luke 22:39-46
Luke adds some details not covered by the other gospels, an angel coming to Him to minister to Him, and the agony of His prayers so deep that His sweat formed as droplets of blood.
What Jesus went through in the garden, helped him to face what was coming next. For us as well, those spiritual battles fought through prayer are essential to properly doing God's will.
John:
"When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples."
John 18:1-2
John adds a few details to the place and why Judas knew where it was, but he didn't cover the actual time of Jesus in prayer or the sleeping disciples.
It was an interesting way to recount the agony of Gethsemane, but there is really no way of taking it apart and gleaning the cost of our salvation. It is beyond our imaging. It is beyond our comprehension.
But what we can do is take that salvation offered to us, through repentance and surrender to Jesus as our Lord and Master.
Stay strong! Let the choice of Jesus to do the will of God, not His own will, inspire you.
NAN
