Good Morning My Friends! We are a sleepy people I think. God has a message for us today of the importance of prayer and staying awake!
Just like the number 40 has significant meaning, so does the number three entail significance. I did a quick search this morning, and discovered the number 3 is used 467 times in the Bible.
So it’s not surprising I noticed a number three pattern in my daily reading this morning.
This week I’m reading the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross.
I want to be reminded why He came and what He did for me and for you. Every year, I truly reflect during Holy Week and this year is no different.
Three Times a Charm
This morning I read the first half of Matthew 26. After dining together and eating the Lord’s Supper, Jesus takes His disciples to Garden of Gethsemane which is near the foot of the Mount of Olives so that He can pray. They went there often, so this was not unusual for Jesus to go and pray. But this night was different. Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow. He knew His time had come to fulfill His purpose.
When I read verses 36-46, I noticed three patterns of three:
- Instructions for the disciples
- Prayer
- Seeking the Heavenly Father about the same issue
Let’s take a look at these patterns of three.
The instructions Jesus gave to his disciples were to stay awake!
Jesus said to the three disciples (Peter, James, and John), who were with Him, “Stay here and keep watch over me” (v. 38).
Jesus went off by Himself to pray, the second pattern of three.
“Jesus fell with His face to the ground and prayed” (v. 39).
The third pattern of three: Seeking the Heavenly Father about the same issue.
Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (v. 39).
Now, Jesus had only been gone for one hour and upon His return to Peter, James, and John, He discovered they had fallen asleep.
He actually said to them, “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” Yikes! I think they must have felt a little embarrassed and I’m sure ashamed.
Then Jesus instructs them a second time, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The Spirit is willing, but the body is weak” (v.41).
Then Jesus went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done” (v. 42).
Guess what Jesus discovered Peter, James, and John doing when He returned to them? That’s right. They were sleeping!
I’m sure Jesus was disappointed in them.
This time Jesus did not wake them. He just left them sleeping and went off by Himself a third time to pray the exact same prayer to the Father a third time (v. 44).
- Three times Jesus instructs the disciples to keep watch, meaning stay awake and be vigilant.
- Three times Jesus goes off by Himself to pray.
- Three times Jesus seeks the Heavenly Father about the same issue.
The old saying, “Three Times a Charm” was definitely not working on this particular night. You’d think after two times of the disciples falling asleep, the third time they’d do something different to stay awake and be alert. Nope!
Three times Jesus asks the Father if this cup of suffering can be taken from Him. If Jesus were just human, and not also God, He probably would have changed His prayer the third time, but praise be to God He didn’t.
Preparation for What’s to Come
We haven’t been doing this 40 Days of Intentional Living for nothing. God is preparing you and me. Just like Jesus was prepared for His purpose, we need to get our lives in order so that when our time of suffering comes (and maybe you are currently in a time like that right now), we will be strong in our faith, like Jesus, and we can pray like Him, “Not as I will, but as You will.”
Power of Prayer
Today, I truly believe Jesus is giving us the exact same instructions He gave to His disciples. Stay awake! Keep watch! Be alert! Be Vigilant! Pray!
Find your Garden of Gethsemane this week and pray seeking the Heavenly Father that His will be done in your life no matter what that is.
God tells us that “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16, ESV)
Let us pray!
God also tells us to never stop praying. This is His will for us.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV).
We know by the disciples’ example just how difficult it is to stay awake. But God wants us to stay awake and pray.
This week in particular is important to fall on our faces and seek His will for our lives.
My prayer for each of you is that you will truly bow in humbleness before Jesus and find out just how much He truly loves you and how powerful prayer is.
Stay awake and keep “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18, ESV).
After today, we have three days left of our 40 Days of Intentional Living. Let us stay alert!
Today we will end our devotion with the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).
Prayer for the Day
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.
Just for Today
Refrain from Falling Asleep. Embrace Prayer!
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