Stay awake and pray

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Carla on August 10, 2011 at 5:33pm

Hi Chris and Arnie,

 

  Jesus instructed His disciples to keep watch and pray 'so that they may not fall into temptation'..  He instructed them to pray for their own sakes.  The temptation that they may have avoided is to run in fear and deny Him..  They maybe would have stood strong in their faith after Christ's death. 

 

There are different teachings of 'the cup' that Jesus was talking about:

1) that Jesus was referring to physical death--  the problem with this teaching is that Jesus would be asking for cancellation of the entire program (the reason He came)..  This can't be, because Jesus came to die for all sinners (Luke 19:10; Phil 2:8; Hebrews 10:5-9; John 10:17)

2) that Jesus's death was premature..  The problem with this, is that it couldn't happen because Jesus is in total control (John 10:18; Luke 23:46...  The soldiers also fell down when Jesus said 'I AM HE'..  referring to His own divinity.

3) The meaning of the cup is Spiritual death-Meaning separation from God..  to be out of fellowship from Him..  Jesus was saying 'Father.. if it is possible, don't let me be separated from You."

The third meaning of the cup makes the most sense, and seems to be the most biblical.  Jesus was never separated from His Father, and HE would know how terrible that would be, because He's never known anything else, but to be totally compeltely connected with the Father..  however, when He was covered with our sin, that was a natural consequence, of how things were going to occur, because God cannot look upon sin. 

We can't truly appreciate how hard it must have been for Jesus... even the thought of being separated from God because we were born spiritually dead..  However, Jesus's spirit came alive before He physically died.

Jesus could ask for this (for the cup to be passed), because prophecies only predicted a physical death, not a spiritual one.  Also, spiritual death is not necessary for atonement...only physical is... There must be a shedding of blood for atonement, this is only possible with physical death.

 

Anyway..  Your question:  How might it had helped Jesus if, when He asked His disciples to, “Stay awake, and pray
that you won’t be tempted?”
Perhaps it would have comforted Him, just knowing that they were awake and praying...having that fellowship.  We can't forget that in addition to being fully divine, He is also fully human.

 

I think that Jesus was telling them to pray so that they would not fall into temptation..  but I like your question because it causes me to think deeply about it... It's hard to know because we weren't there, and there is alot we are not told...  I don't think the disciples fully understood that Jesus was actually going to die..  at that point I think they thought that He was going to set up an earthly Kingdom right away..  That's why they were so discouraged when He died..  They didn't understand until they realized that He rose again. 

 

I'm looking forward to reading the input from others..

 

Blessings, Carla

 

Permalink Reply by a servant (Chris) on August 11, 2011 at 9:34am

Carla

I had never thought about it like that.  Until my wife had asked what I thought

after she had read the passages.  Her actual question was about Peter, and wondered if the tempation Jesus warned him of, was Peter deny Christ.  Glad you liked it, I did.

                                                                                      Chris

Permalink Reply by Carla on August 15, 2011 at 7:03am

That makes sense to me... Peter may have not fallen into that temptation if he had prayed..  It's amazing to me that God even uses our weaknesses and failures to bring about His purposes.. HE's unstoppable..  Our God is Awesome and nothing fazes Him...  I have alot to learn when studying the lives of those who have gone before me.  Important lesson..  When I am too tired to pray..  pray anyway.  When I am too lazy to pray..  pray anyway.  When my flesh wants to be selfish and not pray..  pray anyway.

 

Very important lesson..  Thanks for this post brother.

 

Blessings, Carla

Permalink Reply by Rita Cullimore on August 14, 2011 at 6:11am

Chris and Arnie,

AS a matter of fact, Peter did fall into temptation when he denied Christ 3 times. John, however, went to where Jesus was. He didn't, however, speak up. 

If we are in prayer, Satan can't bother us. I don't think that God would allow his interruption. If we are thinking of God, does Satan have the ability to interfere? I would think not. In fact, as Satan harasses me, I call on the Lord. I can't see Satan if I'm focused on Christ nor can he get my attention during this time.

 

Blessings to you both,

Rita

Permalink Reply by a servant (Chris) on August 15, 2011 at 4:50am

Rita

That was one of the questions

Do you think Peter would not of denied Christ if he had prayed.

Would Jesus not of told him that he would deny Him.

What would might of changed if Peter had stayed awake.

Had never thought about it before, thought it to be good question

In the Love of the Lord       Chris

Permalink Reply by Rita Cullimore on August 16, 2011 at 5:15am

Chris,

I don't think that Christ would have told Peter that he would deny Him if it weren't going to happen. However, the more we stay in tune to Christ's directions, the less we err. We can turn away from sin at any point. Christ knew what was coming. I have to agree that He was praying about His upcoming separation from God the Father. Maybe He needed the comfort of knowing His disciples were awake and praying with Him. The disciples couldn't accomplish this because their flesh took over and they slept. That in itself is temptation and it did over take them. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. When we want to accomplish something that we know is right, we need to convince our mind (soul) as well. With that done, our flesh is fighting a losing battle. I think it has to do with regenerating our minds. Renewing or minds to be in accord with our spirit.

 

The disciples didn't have their new spirits until Christ breathed on them after the resurrection. So they were dependent on their soul (mind) to accomplish the staying awake. In this battle, the flesh won.

I hope I haven't confused you with this response. I know what I mean but might not have let it come out the right way.....

 

Blessings,

Rita

Permalink Reply by Amber on May 31, 2012 at 11:00pm

Well, I think it was all part of the plan. It was all meant to happen that way. We can learn that even though we might be SO in Love with Jesus, he knows we are human...and life threatening peer pressure could really be challenging to our faithfulness and loyalty, even if we prayed about it... It takes bravery....and the Lord knows we are weak.