I have been spending a lot of time in Matthew 26-27 and there was another particular passage that struck me this past week.  Jesus is in Gethsemane with His disciples and He is talking with His Father. Last week we discussed Jesus’ statement “not as I will, but as You will.” This week I want to briefly touch on the statement that Jesus made to His disciples when He said “watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (26:41)  What did Jesus mean when He said that to His disciples? Was He trying to divert their attention away from the problem by shifting their focus to something else? We have done that with our kids for years. When they would go to the doctor as children there was always a supply of suckers or candy readily available to shift their focus away from their vaccinations and the pain that they were about to experience, and I continue to do those kinds of things today with our grandchildren when they fall and get hurt. Is that what Jesus is doing here?

I have to think that watching and praying is more than a diversion given to us by Jesus. The passage does say “so that you will not fall into temptation.” Is that the only reason? How does that happen? What does “watching and praying” do? What am I “watching” for? The fact that I am watching is an acknowledgement that I have need; that I can very easily fail; that I am prone to wander; that I am a sinner. I am a sinner! You are a sinner too! The people that you live with are sinners! The person that you heard about on the news last night in the police reports is a sinner! We are all sinners! We are prone to wander! The disciples were in constant communion with Jesus for more than 3 years and Jesus tells them to watch. They were with Jesus in Gethsemane and Jesus tells them to watch. Aren’t you thankful for the Amazing Grace and patience of God? How many times would you extend grace to someone like them? How many warnings would you give until you finally gave up and said “they got what they deserved”? How many times would you extend grace to someone like you? If you are a Christian, you are a sinner who has been saved by the grace of God, and yet, we still need to watch.

Jesus goes on to say “pray”. What kind of prayer? What should you talk to God about? After all, talking to God is prayer. Do you realize who God is? He is the One who breaths life into you. He is the One who knows all of your needs. He is the One who controls all things. He is sovereign over all things, everything, and yet He has time for you and for me. Talk to Him. Know that He is Holy, Holy, Holy and that He hates sin. Even though He hates sin, He loves you, a sinner. He has time for you. 

If you know that you are a sinner, and if you know that He hates sin, do you suppose that might have an impact on you when you “watch and pray”? Do you suppose that you might give a second thought to what you are about to do if you are watching and praying? How might a life of watching and praying impact you? What do you suppose might happen to temptation when it comes along, and it will? Jesus knew what was about to happen in Gethsemane, and He knew what His disciples were going to be facing, so He told them to watch and pray. Why? Because He loves them. Because He loves you and me! 

The disciples failed three times; back to back to back, and yet Jesus loved them. He loved them so much that He went straight from Gethsemane to the cross, not because of anything that He did, but because we are sinners in need of a Savior. He loves you! He loves me! Is it too much of Him to ask us to watch and pray? It will be for our good and His glory, so why would we not do it? “Watch and pray!”