Approaching Easter ~ Not my will but yours

Today we look at the Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. It is night and Jesus takes his disciples to the garden. He leaves them and takes his three friends James, John and Peter further into the garden. He asks them to wait before going further on his own. He is displaying real human emotions. Those of distress and troubledness. How would we feel knowing that a death sentance was hanging over us with a cruel and horrible death awaiting us. But worse still, what if it was your own Father who'd organised it?

Mark 14 32-42
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, Sit here while I pray.
He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.
My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, he said to them. Stay here and keep watch.
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
Abba, Father, he said, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Simon, he said to Peter, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.
Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
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 betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!

Jesus asks his Father to let him escape the death, but in doing so he also acknowledges Gods power and control over things.
Jesus returns to Peter, James and John to find them sleeping... this must have added to his hurt. Coudn't they see what he was going through, how could they sleep at a time like this?
He wakes them and then goes off to pray again, but on returning find them sleeping. The disciples can find no words for him.

God gives a great big No to Jesus' request to "take the cup from him". Jesus returns to his freinds, wkes them and stands to see the soldiers and his frined Judas coming into the garden....