Friday after 3rd Last - A Devotion

 Devotion for Friday after 3rd Last 

Jeremiah 26:1-19       Matthew 26:36-56

In the lesson from Matthew, we read:

36 Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38 Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”

39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40 And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and He *said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? 41 Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, Your will be done.” 43 Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then He *came to the disciples and *said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let’s go; behold, the one who is betraying Me is near!” (NASB New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.)

How much are we like the disciples? Jesus tells us to remain her, to keep watch and to pray. And we fall asleep! OK, maybe it isn't sleep, but what is it that distracts us from keeping watch with Him and praying? 

You are thinking, "but Jesus isn't here with us, talking with us, walking with us? He is in heaven?"

It may appear that way, but He is omnipresent (present everywhere) and has promised to be with us always. And, He has commanded us to keep watch, in fact, that is the theme of these last few weeks of the Church Year, and also the beginning of the Advent Season.

By baptism we are "in Christ" and Christ is in us. So the relationship that Jesus has with us is even more intimate than with the disciples. They could reach out and touch Him, this is true. He has united Himself to us, dwells within us through our baptism, and He even gives us to eat of His flesh and to drink of His blood - as He did with the disciples on that night He took them to that garden.

Yes, they had just celebrated the first Lord's Supper, had their faith strengthened in that meal, and the fell asleep instead of watching and praying.

We know what we are to do - to watch and pray - and yet we fail to do so. We fall asleep, literally at times, and forget to do so because life sometimes gets in the way. Sometimes we even fall asleep when we are most aware of Christ's presence, in the sanctuary, in the Divine Service, as He is speaking to us through the mouth of our pastors, in the middle of the sermon.

Like the disciples, Jesus does not abandon us. He woke the disciples so that they might be witnesses of His arrest, betrayal, suffering and death. He came to them again after His resurrection. He came and declared to those who had fled in His greatest hour of need, and gave them the greatest gift to dispense - the forgiveness of sins which He purchased upon the cross.

He invites us to come to Him, even when we have forgotten Him, even when our sinfulness has overwhelmed us. He invites us to come and receive forgiveness and life as He visits us with His Word, His body, and His blood of forgiveness.

Refreshed and renewed, He invites us - Watch and Pray! Amen.