In The Word
Read: Matthew 26:30-56
30 And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus *said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will bescattered.’ 32 But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33 But Peter replied to Him, “Even if they all fall away because of You, I will never fall away!”34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35 Peter *said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” All the disciples said the same thing as well.
The Garden of Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”37 And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38 Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”
39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet 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, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? 41 Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cupcannot pass away unless I drink from it, Your will be done.” 43 Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then He *came to the 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. 46 Get up, let’s go; behold, the one who is betraying Me is near!”
Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest
47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign previously, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; arrest Him.” 49 And immediately Judas went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested Him.
51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus *said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a man inciting a revolt? Every day I used to sit within the temple grounds teaching, and you did not arrest Me. 56 But all this has taken place so that the Scriptures of the prophets will be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
We read, today, about a dark time: a time of betrayal, a time of struggle, a time of survival and a time of laying down one’s life. Yahshua had been betrayed and the destiny of His life had come. This brought great struggle with it. To help during this time, our Lord reached out to three of His most trusted disciples. However, they were unable to comprehend the gravity of what was happening. They allowed their need for rest to be placed over Christ’s need for comfort. He didn’t allow that to trip Him up, for maybe the abandonment of His friends was part of His test. Regardless of that, He prayed through, “Not My will but Your will be done.” It was Christ time to die, not Peter’s. It seemed Peter was willing to die with Christ, but it was not God’s will for him to die at that time. At this time, it also appeared for Peter that it was easier to die for Christ than to live for Him. The shepherd was laying down His life so these sheep could get away. For them it was still time to live for Christ, not die for Him.
We all face times of betrayal, struggle, and survival. Many times those that we think will stand with us, end up letting us down. Maybe those are times of testing for us. Regardless of who stands with us, will we pray through to discern what the will of God is? I find that most of the time it’s going to be to live for Christ and not to die for Him. However, rather living or dying for Him, if we pray through, we will have the break through to do whatever He asks.