Word@Work Luke332 - Luke 22:41-44
Published: Mon, 04/11/11
Word@Work from BeaconLight
VERY HARD WORK
Luke 22:41-44 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (NIV)
For those Christians who see prayer as a therapeutic comfort, an emergency help-line, or a routine ritual, it may come as a surprise to know that when Jesus prayed it was very hard work indeed. Eleven disciples were a few yards away, hearing Jesus' words as He spoke to His Father. Although He knew that He must go to the cross, He found the prospect so terribly distasteful; yet He was lovingly committed to fulfilling His Father's will. It was a real wrestle within Jesus' heart. It was so difficult that an angel was sent to strengthen Him.
Two different prayers were in Jesus' heart, fighting for dominance: "Please take the cross away", and "I don't want to be selfish, I want you to fulfil your will". The last time that Jesus had suffered was when He had to deal with Satan's temptations after fasting for forty days in the wilderness. This time the temptation was simple: "avoid the cross and eliminate the prospect of suffering". He knew the clock was ticking and the process that would lead to His execution had begun. But He had to master this temptation too. His chosen method was to expose His agony of heart to His Father and honour His will higher than any demonic deception. That is why His prayer was such hard work.
Most believers find prayer quite difficult at times, especially when resisting Satan's attempts to push us into activity which contradicts God's commands. The example of Jesus was strategically very simple: "remove yourself from all distractions and tell God everything". When the road ahead seems impossible, and conflicts produce anguish in the soul, another temptation is presented - don't even pray! If we fall to that test of our faith we will not be able to win any other battle. Perhaps the Lord's example of a regular habit of prayer is an important clue. Every wise Christian will confirm that those who make prayer a part of daily life more easily see the temptations and also more keenly feel the challenges to obedience. And when these two are both in our heart at the same time, the people who win through are the ones who have learned to pray.
Prayer: Gracious God. Although it seems extraordinary that Your Son should struggle to pray, I am glad to know that He did, and that He understands my struggle. Forgive me for my weak submission to the devil's suggestions that I should stop praying, and help me to re-prioritise my conversation time with You so that I will not fall into temptation, but keep on obeying You however great the cost. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
For those Christians who see prayer as a therapeutic comfort, an emergency help-line, or a routine ritual, it may come as a surprise to know that when Jesus prayed it was very hard work indeed. Eleven disciples were a few yards away, hearing Jesus' words as He spoke to His Father. Although He knew that He must go to the cross, He found the prospect so terribly distasteful; yet He was lovingly committed to fulfilling His Father's will. It was a real wrestle within Jesus' heart. It was so difficult that an angel was sent to strengthen Him.
Two different prayers were in Jesus' heart, fighting for dominance: "Please take the cross away", and "I don't want to be selfish, I want you to fulfil your will". The last time that Jesus had suffered was when He had to deal with Satan's temptations after fasting for forty days in the wilderness. This time the temptation was simple: "avoid the cross and eliminate the prospect of suffering". He knew the clock was ticking and the process that would lead to His execution had begun. But He had to master this temptation too. His chosen method was to expose His agony of heart to His Father and honour His will higher than any demonic deception. That is why His prayer was such hard work.
Most believers find prayer quite difficult at times, especially when resisting Satan's attempts to push us into activity which contradicts God's commands. The example of Jesus was strategically very simple: "remove yourself from all distractions and tell God everything". When the road ahead seems impossible, and conflicts produce anguish in the soul, another temptation is presented - don't even pray! If we fall to that test of our faith we will not be able to win any other battle. Perhaps the Lord's example of a regular habit of prayer is an important clue. Every wise Christian will confirm that those who make prayer a part of daily life more easily see the temptations and also more keenly feel the challenges to obedience. And when these two are both in our heart at the same time, the people who win through are the ones who have learned to pray.
Prayer: Gracious God. Although it seems extraordinary that Your Son should struggle to pray, I am glad to know that He did, and that He understands my struggle. Forgive me for my weak submission to the devil's suggestions that I should stop praying, and help me to re-prioritise my conversation time with You so that I will not fall into temptation, but keep on obeying You however great the cost. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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