diff --git a/content/bible_journal/luke_22:39-46.md b/content/bible_journal/luke_22:39-46.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..40ec087 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/bible_journal/luke_22:39-46.md @@ -0,0 +1,52 @@ ++++ +title = "Luke 22:39–46" +date = "2023-02-10" ++++ + +### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk22.39-46) + +The Passover is finished, the hymns are sung, and the big day is tomorrow. +Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives as He had the last several days, but not to +sleep. I probably couldn't either if I knew I would give up my life the next +day. No, instead, Jesus goes to pray. He also instructs the disciples with Him +to pray so that they do not enter temptation. I have to wonder what kind of +tempation He is warning them against. Jesus knows Judas will be bringing +soldiers to arrest Him, but they don't. + +With those words, Jesus goes off a little way to pray by Himself. Usually, +first century Jews would pray while standing, but here Jesus kneels. While we +have seen Jesus wield divine power, here we see His humanity, as He is weighed +down by the difficult things He will have to do tomorrow. He even goes so far +as to ask for a reprieve, a change of plan like Abraham got when he was told to +sacrifice Isaac. But even at this time He submits in obedience to the Father's +will. + +In my Bible, and probably in yours too, there's a little note on verses 43 and +44. It says that some early manuscripts didn't include them. That tells me that +there's evidence to say they probably should be in the Bible, but not with 100% +confidence. It happens that way, sometimes, when you have really old writings, +but not the originals. Thankfully, God is faithful to preserve His Word through +the centuries, and there isn't any questionable passage that we base any +important doctrines upon. + +Once He has finished praying, Jesus returns to the disciples and wakes them up. +I'm not sure how many times I've read this verse, but I have never noticed +before that it says they were "sleeping for sorrow". (_v. 45_) Now, the +disciples catch a lot of flak from people for how they act in the Gospels, and +a lot of it they deserve. But I think this time, we need to cut them a break. +They weren't being lazy, disloyal, or uncommitted; they were overcome with +grief. It seems they'd finally figured out what Jesus meant about being handed +over to the authorities, and that it was going to happen very, very soon. I +don't know about you, but emotional stress wears me out, and I don't keep the +energy and motivation to do anything beyond the essential when I'm going +through a hard time of some kind. This, then, might be the clue to answering +what temptation they are to prray against, especially since Jesus repeats His +instruction. It's not exactly the tempation to fall asleep, but the tempation +to worry about what is about to happen. While it's true that you can't pray +while you're asleep, I now expect the disciples were praying pretty hard that +night, too. + +* * * + +Keep us from the tempation of worry, because You are entirely in control, and +we trust You to do what is righteous.