DEVOTION - MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2010

DEVOTIONAL – MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2012

Holy Land Devotional

Garden of Gethsemane

By Tom Austin, Deerfield UMC

Read: Matthew 26:36-39

"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit 9here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Gethsemane means oil press. In this garden there are olive trees that are over 2,000 years old and these trees still bear fruit.

When Jesus was overwhelmed with his impending death he went to this garden and prayed. He returned to pray three times while the disciples slept. When Jesus was sorrowful and troubled, the first thing he did was pray. Through prayer he found the strength and courage to go to the cross and give his life for us.

I have heard it said, “When all else fails pray.” Why do we turn to prayer as our last resort? Like Jesus if we pray first, we will find through the power of the Holy Spirit that same strength and courage to face our troubles and temptations.