I wrote recently about avoiding temptation by being with others. This morning I was brought to the passage of Jesus praying in Gethsemane and the actions of those who were with Him at that time. Jesus was with the three and as He went a bit further to pray and converse with God alone, He left them to keep watch. When one is to keep watch, it is understood to be awake and alert to that which is going on around so as to warn or take action as needed.
“40And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’” — Matthew 26:40-41 (ESV)
The three could not even keep watch for one hour while Jesus was praying. They fell asleep and lacked awareness and alertness to anything that was going on about them. Jesus returned to find them this way and coached them to the need for them to stay awake and gave them instruction as to how to and why it was important, pray to avoid temptation.
Jesus understands that it is important to have others around you to avoid temptation, hence the reason for bringing the three disciples with Him to pray so that they could keep one another. Yet, the disciples did not hold each other accountable and allowed one another to fall into temptation and fall asleep. They were tempted by their in action and even though they were not alone, they were on their own as they did not work together.
Jesus gave the disciples simple instructions to stay awake and watch out. The disciples could not do it. So, Jesus gave them additional instruction to avoid the temptation of sleep and that was to remain active with prayer. Jesus went again to pray additionally with God and then returned to find the disciples, you guessed it, asleep again.
“42Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’ 43And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.” — Matthew 26:42-44 (ESV)
Notice as He returned after prayer and finding them asleep, Jesus did not coach them again as he knew that they had fallen to the temptation and would continue doing so. He returned to pray once again and left them to sleep. Jesus had asked and asked again for the disciples to follow His example and pray, and when they demonstrated that they were not capable, He left them to continue on their own and fall to the temptation.
Jesus will deliver us from the temptations that we fall to as He did with the disciples here. He will “wake” us and provide the instruction to avoid that temptation and it is up to us to take that instruction and learn from it to improve. When we do not, Jesus will allow us to fall to the temptation and will wait for us to come to Him and seek the deliverance.
Jesus will also come to us when it is time and deliver us as needed. He did so with the disciples at the appointed time and provided some final coaching and instruction for them before He would be taken away and led to His crucifixion.
“45Then 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. 46Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.’” — Matthew 26:45-46 (ESV)
I have to note here that Jesus did not give up on the disciples, He simply allowed them to fall to the temptation knowing that He would be able to deliver them at the appointed time. Jesus will not abandon me. He is always with me, yet He will allow me to live with free will and make my own decisions. He will be there waiting for me to come to Him.
The disciples fell to their temptation as they were idle. They were not doing anything to stay awake and alert and keep watch. They were men and they were tired. I know that I have fallen prey to being idle and have fallen to the temptation of sleep when I could have taken action to avoid that temptation. I will teach my trainees that when there is nothing to do, there is always something to do. They should not just sit idle, they should find something to take up their time so that they are able to stay alert and continue to learn. I have to remember to take my own advice and remember that when I am idle, there is always something to do to avoid temptation and that something is to pray.
What are you doing when you are idle? Are you looking to simply rest and are you falling prey to temptation? What if you found that one thing that would fill your idleness and pray to the LORD?
Trevor's Thoughts 