For the 24th of April 2013

4/24/13

Luk 22:39  And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.

Luk 22:40  And when he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."

Luk 22:41  And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed,

Luk 22:42  saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."

Luk 22:43  And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

Luk 22:44  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Luk 22:45  And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,

Luk 22:46  and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation."

Luk 22:47  While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him,

Luk 22:48  but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"

Luk 22:49  And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"

Luk 22:50  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

Luk 22:51  But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him.

Luk 22:52  Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?

Luk 22:53  When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

Luk 22:54  Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance.

Luk 22:55  And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.

Luk 22:56  Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, "This man also was with him."

Luk 22:57  But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him."

Luk 22:58  And a little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not."

Luk 22:59  And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, "Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean."

Luk 22:60  But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

Luk 22:61  And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times."

Luk 22:62  And he went out and wept bitterly.

The neglect of prayer is a major cause of stagnation in the Christian life. Consider the example of Peter in the above scriptures. Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray, as was His custom, and told His disciples, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” The disciples fell asleep instead. The next thing Peter did was try to take on the Roman army with a sword; then he denied Christ. Peter did not pray, and as a result he fell into temptation. What is true of Peter is true of all of us: we fall in private before we ever fall in public.