“They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch....
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” [Mark 14:32-34, 37,38]
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation"
Darkness had settled over the land. It was Thursday night running into Friday morning. When they came to an enclosed piece of ground name Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus left eight of the disciples near the entrance.
He took Peter, James, and John with Him deeper into the garden. There He experienced an overpowering burden on His holy soul as he anticipated becoming a sin-offering for us. We cannot conceive what it meant to Him the Sinless One, to be made sin for us. He left the three disciples with instructions to stay there and stay awake. He went a little farther into the garden—alone. Thus would He go to the cross alone, bearing the awful judgment of God against our sins.
First, He prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. If there was any other way by which sinners could be saved than by His death, burial, and resurrection, let God reveal that way. The heavens were silent. Was He asking to be excused from going to the cross? Not at all; this was the purpose of His coming into the world. There was no other way in which we could be redeemed. Do NOT believe the devil’s lie “that all paths lead to God”. "For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many." [Matt. 7:13]
Returning to the three disciples, He found them sleeping—a sad commentary on fallen human nature. Jesus warned Peter against sleeping in that crucial hour. Only recently, Peter had boated of his undying steadfastness. Now he couldn’t even stay awake. If a man cannot pray for one hour, it is unlikely that he will be able to resist temptation in the moment of extreme pressure. No matter how enthusiastic his spirit may be, he must reckon with the frailty of his flesh.
"...Yet not what I will, but what you will."
“Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” [Mark 14:35]
