Matthew 26:36-56

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41, ESV)

This was the most trying time of Jesus’ ministry. The fate of humankind lay in the balance. He knew that Judas had betrayed Him and that the chief priests would soon arrest Him and hand Him over to be crucified. Earlier He said that He had a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed He was until it was accomplished (Luke 12:50). But the greatest suffering was not the crucifixion. It was when He would bear the sins of the world for all time and experience the undiluted wrath of God. He knew that He needed strength to endure, so He went to Gethsemane to pray. He told Peter, James and John to watch with Him. This was when He needed the prayers of those closest to Him. But He also knew that they needed to pray to overcome the power of darkness.

Jesus prayed that if it were possible this cup might pass from Him. This was the cup of God’s wrath against all the unrighteousness and ungodliness of men (Romans 1:18). But then He prayed, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."

When Jesus returned to check on His disciples, they were sleeping. So He said to Peter, “Could you not watch with me for one hour?” Earlier Peter said, “Even if I have to die for you, I will not deny you.” But Peter could not even stay awake to pray with Jesus in His hour of need. Peter earnestly wanted to be loyal to Jesus, but his flesh was weak.

Can we not all relate to this? We want to do the right thing. We want to pray more and be more available to serve Jesus, but the flesh is weak. Peter did not realize that he was heading for a colossal failure. Jesus told him to watch and pray so that he could avoid temptation and sin.

What does it mean to watch with Jesus? He sees everything. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. He knows what tomorrow holds. He also knows the snares the devil has set for us. He knows God's unique and strategic plan for us. If we will watch with Him and ask Him to reveal these things to us, He will.

Then we can pray with Him. He will give us His heart by the Spirit to pray what He is praying. He always lives to intercede for His people (Hebrews 7:25). Our prayers for others will be powerful and effective, if we learn to pray with Jesus. But we also need prayer for ourselves. If Jesus needed to pray to gain strength and guidance, then how much more do we? Jesus said that if we will watch and pray, then we will not enter temptation. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is better to be strengthened through prayer now and avoid temptation altogether than to later sin and repent.

Peter would soon learn this lesson the hard way.

“Lord, please forgive us when we have failed to watch with you and pray. Help us to join you in this essential work. As we watch and pray, help us overcome weakness and temptation and fulfill God's purpose for our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”