Journey to Easter: Prayer in the Garden
04/10/11
Dr. Phil Wilkes, Mark 14:32-42
As we move towards Easter we can only get there by way of the cross. Before Jesus went to the cross he took 3 of his closest disciples with him to the garden of Gethsemane. Prayer had been vital for Jesus all through his public ministry. The Gospel writers let us know that often Jesus would go off to be alone with his Heavenly Father.
It is not surprising to find Jesus in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was in agony as he struggled to obey the Father and go to the cross. He needed the support of those 3 disciples yet they fell asleep. While Jesus had to struggle alone you never do. Whatever life throws at you does not have to be dealt with by yourself. You have a Savior who not only knows how hard life can be, but has overcome. He will never abandon you.
Jesus understands that obedience to the Father can be costly. The Lord, himself, struggled to obey. His flesh was in agony at the thought of the pain he would face on the cross . He also knew that the sins of every person would be thrust upon him as the perfect sacrifice. Sometimes obeying Jesus is easy. But often it calls for sacrifice or a realignment of one’s priorities. Our Lord told us that being his disciple meant taking up one’s cross and following him.
Prayer is the key. In prayer you find the power to overcome temptation. In prayer you are given courage to do God’s will. Through prayer the Father is shaping you into the image of his son. Prayer is powerful. Do you have a Gethsemane? A place where you can be alone with the Father? Wherever that is, visit there often with God. In your Gethsemane the Father will continue to work his perfect will in your life. In Gethsemane you find the courage and power to obey. In Gethsemane you are reminded that whatever is happening, Christ is with you.
Podcast
As we move towards Easter we can only get there by way of the cross. Before Jesus went to the cross he took 3 of his closest disciples with him to the garden of Gethsemane. Prayer had been vital for Jesus all through his public ministry. The Gospel writers let us know that often Jesus would go off to be alone with his Heavenly Father.
It is not surprising to find Jesus in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was in agony as he struggled to obey the Father and go to the cross. He needed the support of those 3 disciples yet they fell asleep. While Jesus had to struggle alone you never do. Whatever life throws at you does not have to be dealt with by yourself. You have a Savior who not only knows how hard life can be, but has overcome. He will never abandon you.
Jesus understands that obedience to the Father can be costly. The Lord, himself, struggled to obey. His flesh was in agony at the thought of the pain he would face on the cross . He also knew that the sins of every person would be thrust upon him as the perfect sacrifice. Sometimes obeying Jesus is easy. But often it calls for sacrifice or a realignment of one’s priorities. Our Lord told us that being his disciple meant taking up one’s cross and following him.
Prayer is the key. In prayer you find the power to overcome temptation. In prayer you are given courage to do God’s will. Through prayer the Father is shaping you into the image of his son. Prayer is powerful. Do you have a Gethsemane? A place where you can be alone with the Father? Wherever that is, visit there often with God. In your Gethsemane the Father will continue to work his perfect will in your life. In Gethsemane you find the courage and power to obey. In Gethsemane you are reminded that whatever is happening, Christ is with you.
Podcast