The Hour Has Come
Opening Prayer
Jesus, I need Your grace today. May I pray with all my heart, “Thy will be done.”
Read Mark 14:32–42
[32] They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” [33] He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. [34] “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” [35] Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. [36] “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” [37] Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? [38] Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” [39] Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. [40] When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. [41] Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. [42] Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Exams, hospital operations, bereavement, pain—we all face such events. Now the hour of crisis has come for Jesus. How did he cope?Jesus knew “the hour” would come when he would face arrest, trial, punishment, suffering, desertion and death. Now the hour has come. How does he respond? First, he shares fellowship with the inner group—Peter, James and John. He asks for their company and support. Sadly they can’t keep awake all the time that Jesus is praying. Second, Jesus expresses his emotions—he is distressed and deeply troubled. He is overwhelmed with sorrow. He confesses that he longs that the hour would pass and that he need not face what lies ahead. Third, he knows his Father can take the cup of his wrath away from him, but he states, “Not what I will, but what you will.” While we will never suffer as Jesus did, there are thousands of Christians around the world praying that their cup of suffering—from persecution, rejection or imprisonment—be taken away. Others, having prayed for the Lord’s healing, find that he doesn’t answer their prayer in the way they wish. Instead they pray for grace to accept their suffering. Not what I will, but what you will.
Apply
Think of someone you know who is suffering today. What can you do to encourage them?
Closing prayer
Compassionate God, be with those who are suffering. Help us all to accept Your will.
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