To the Mount of Olives
Luke 22:39 – Then Jesus went out and made his way, as he customarily did, to the mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 – When he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
The Mount of Olives was the place Jesus regularly spent His nights alone, but on this particular night, He had his disciples follow Him. Jesus wanted their presence and their prayers. Jesus, Himself, was praying to not fall into temptation. What was His temptation?
Read His prayer in verse 42 – “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Yet not my will but yours be done.” 43 – [Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.]
The temptation for Jesus was to do His own will. That temptation was so strong that an angel appeared to Him from heaven to give Him strength – even as his sweat became drops of blood falling to the ground (verse 44).
We will face our own temptations – ones where we will be confronted with the intense desire to our own will instead of God’s will. It will not be a time to sleep, but to get up and pray that we will not fall into temptation.
Jesus was regularly at His garden of prayer. Let’s make it a habit to be in our gardens of prayer too where angels will be sent to us to give us strength. Strength to hold on to Jesus and not give up; strength to be persistent; strength to repent; strength to forgive in the midst of betrayal. Strength to look up from this world of sin and all its allurements and see that our redemption is near!
Where two are gathered 