Word@Work 174 - Mark 14:32-34
Published: Fri, 07/25/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 14:32-34 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." (NIV)
Watching and praying are the two least favourite activities for most Christians. They are replaced by doing and talking, all too often! Yet Jesus knew differently. His prayer that night was not a sudden reaction to an unexpected crisis: it was a part of His normal lifestyle (cf Hebrews 5:7) - don't forget that the cross was in his sights all along, and undoubtedly occupied much of His prayer time in the early mornings (cf Mark 1:35).
But the crucial moment was almost upon Him. The most important thing He could do was to share all His deepest thoughts and emotions with His Father - and to let the three disciples see the agony of a man facing death with the full load of the world's sin upon Him. No death they might face could ever be so gross. Contrary to some British thinking, it is not wrong to have profound emotions, nor wrong to express them: neither is it wrong to value human company. Jesus was a real man and needed both His heavenly Father and His earthly fellowship. None of us is designed to work in any other way.
Inactivity, except watchfulness and prayer, requires the inner confidence that there is nothing more that can or should be done. When Jesus excludes all other options, that quiet alertness is a mark of faith (and agitated activity is a mark of disbelief). The Saviour always knows what He is doing, and prepares us in the best way for every tomorrow.
Prayer: Heavenly Father. Please forgive my anxious thoughts and frenetic activity when there is nothing to do except to await Your time. Please prompt me to action and to stillness at the appropriate time, and help me to know the difference between the two. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
Watching and praying are the two least favourite activities for most Christians. They are replaced by doing and talking, all too often! Yet Jesus knew differently. His prayer that night was not a sudden reaction to an unexpected crisis: it was a part of His normal lifestyle (cf Hebrews 5:7) - don't forget that the cross was in his sights all along, and undoubtedly occupied much of His prayer time in the early mornings (cf Mark 1:35).
But the crucial moment was almost upon Him. The most important thing He could do was to share all His deepest thoughts and emotions with His Father - and to let the three disciples see the agony of a man facing death with the full load of the world's sin upon Him. No death they might face could ever be so gross. Contrary to some British thinking, it is not wrong to have profound emotions, nor wrong to express them: neither is it wrong to value human company. Jesus was a real man and needed both His heavenly Father and His earthly fellowship. None of us is designed to work in any other way.
Inactivity, except watchfulness and prayer, requires the inner confidence that there is nothing more that can or should be done. When Jesus excludes all other options, that quiet alertness is a mark of faith (and agitated activity is a mark of disbelief). The Saviour always knows what He is doing, and prepares us in the best way for every tomorrow.
Prayer: Heavenly Father. Please forgive my anxious thoughts and frenetic activity when there is nothing to do except to await Your time. Please prompt me to action and to stillness at the appropriate time, and help me to know the difference between the two. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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