Our scripture this morning is Luke 22:39-46.
Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”
Jesus is about to face the most difficult task of His time here – knowing He will be mocked, beaten and hung on the cross to die. How does He deal with such a challenge? He goes with His friends to pray to our Heavenly Father. Prayer has always been an important part of His life and His example to us.
We see the power of prayer in action here. Jesus brings a group to pray together and also prays alone. While Jesus asks that God might spare Him, He also surrenders Himself with the prayer “I want your will to be done, not mine” (v. 42). I have often thought this was the best example of His humanity, asking that He might avoid pain and death, but submitting to God’s plan.
Prayer is always the best answer when we face terrible issues, but it is also the best answer to everyday living. We need to pray in order to share our concerns with God, not that He doesn’t already know but to relieve ourselves of burdensome thoughts, and to praise and thank Him for our blessings. This season as we celebrate the coming of our Lord, let us pray for all the world to know His love and light.
Gracious God, we are thankful for the gift of our Savior and what He came to teach us about living together in Your love. Send us into Your world that we may share Your love everywhere. Amen.