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Friday, March 30, 2012

DEVOTION - TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012

DEVOTION - TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 201
Holy Land Devotions 2010 - Day 36
 



                                                                                
Have you been to Gethsemane?

By Rev. Emil Winkelspecht, Trinity UMC, Clayton

Read: Matthew 26:36-46

"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here 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." Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." He went away a 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." When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

                                                                              
                                                                                  

The one place in Israel that I would choose to spend more time would be the Garden of Gethsemane. There is so much to reflect upon in this passage. What is "this cup" that he asks to be taken from him? The inability of his disciples to stay awake with him during the most difficult evening of his life. Would we stay awake with Jesus, or fall asleep as well?

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