THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Watch and Pray that you do not enter into temptation”, Part 61

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 61

“Watch and pray that you many not enter into temptation”

“And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again, he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

The Words of Jesus, Matthew 26:40-46.

Watch and Pray With Him So You and I May Not Enter Into Temptation.

A face-value reading of these verses in the proper context to include the previous three verses, is self-explanatory.

Jesus is entering what some might call a ‘crisis moment’ and is praying to God His Father. He asks Peter, James and John to watch and pray with Him, so they may not enter into temptation. They are tired and keep falling asleep. But there is much more at work here.

It is urgent for our understanding, our safety and the completion of our mission as Jesus’ disciples to see the motivations driving His command to watch and pray with Him so you (and I) may not enter into temptation.

The ‘long picture’ is that beyond His prayer to the Father, Jesus in entering into an act, into a period, that will change everything humanity has known. He will change how we have understood the Torah and Judaism, He will change the purpose and our understanding of our existence; He will clarify our understanding of God’s intention and purpose for creation, where all the world and cosmos are headed and how we can be redeemed from our sick and fallen nature, made safe, whole and healed from our sins and depravity, ultimately being made into the very image of Jesus, given the right and privilege, as joint-heirs with Christ to exist eternally with God in His new heaven and new earth.

IMPORTANT:  We must remember that every word from Jesus is THE WORD OF GOD. Jesus never uttered a misspoken word or haphazard words. Each and every word and intention express the very will of God.

Therefore, when Jesus instructs His disciples to watch and pray, He is speaking eternal, prophetic, causative and creative words. I do not believe this can be overstated.

His words, His instructions to watch and pray, initially, are in the present tense; watch and pray, now.

After finding His disciples asleep, He repeats His words, but this time in the Greek aorist tense, which without regard for past, present or future time – it is continuous. Again, remember that these are prophetic, causative and creative words for all His disciples for all times to hear and act upon.

(I am aware that there are those Bible teachers who would argue that some things in the Bible were exclusively written to and solely for the audience at hand at that moment. This type of thinking and teaching is short-sighted, simple-minded and harmful. The Bible is NOT a religious story book or an historical document intended to recount events that were not eternally relevant – it is the Word of God, breathed into the hearts and minds of God’s chosen authors, written down for us and for all the ages.)

We are to continue to watch and pray that we do not enter into temptation as God’s plan of redemption works Itself out, throughout the rest of time until He returns and completes His Work.

Repeating Jesus’ words of instruction: We can sleep and take our rest later on. We must see that the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is continuing to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. We must rise, and be going; His betrayer is still coming and is now at hand.”

(To be clear, Jesus died only once, for all. But this act is being repeated through the lives of people throughout the rest of the allotted time of existence, until His final return. We, too, must ‘deny ourselves’ and ‘crucify our flesh with its passions and desires’ and follow Jesus in this example)

Let’s be encouraged and be emboldened, remembering, We will overcome “by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our testimony; and we love not our lives unto the death”. (see Revelation 12:11.)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? “Remain Here and Watch With Me”, Part 60.

NEXT:  THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? “Friend, Do What You Came To Do”, Part 62