Scripture
He told them, “My soul is crushed with great grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Observation
On their way to the Mount of Olives, Jesus tells the disciples that they will all desert him. After he is raised from the dead, they will meet again in Galilee. Peter boldly claims that even if the rest desert him, he will not. But Jesus says that very night, Peter will deny three times that he knows Jesus.

At Gethsemane, Jesus takes Peter, James and John with him to pray. Jesus tells them his soul is crushed with grief. He asks them to pray for him and he goes on a little further.

Jesus prays, asking the Father to take his time of suffering away. “Yet not my will but yours be done.” He goes back to the three and finds them asleep.

After the third time of this happening, the betrayer comes.

Application
This scene in the Garden of Gethsemane is a powerful spiritual battle. Jesus is under the most severe testing of his life. The awful fate about to befall him weighs heavily on his soul. We can be sure that satan will be there, whispering in his head that he doesn’t need to be obedient to God, that he can go his own way.

I think it was likely the disciples were under attack also. Their tiredness seems to be unnatural. There have been times when I have been called to pray, and almost immediately I come under a heavy weariness that I have to push through to get to prayer.

At this point of intensive grief and foreboding, Jesus goes into deep prayer. He draws on the strength of the Father to face up to what is coming.

Listen
Lord, is there a lesson for me in this account of your struggle?

Keith, it is your communion with me that is your greatest strength. When you cast yourself on me and surrender all of your plans and ambitions, all of your fights and self-justifications, that is when you are strongest because that is when you are trusting me.

There are times when you allow the enemy to Overwhelm you with fatigue, sinful desires or interruptions. Keep pressing in, even when it seems impossible.

I am the Lord your strength and protector.