“Following In The Will Of The Father II!”

“Following In The Will Of The Father II!”(Mt.26:31-56).
We recall the story of how in thankfulness a man killed a cow to celebrate with his neighbours. As he was preparing the meat he asked his son to go round and invite the neighbours. The boy went round shouting, “Please come and help us! Come and help us! Our house is on fire!”
When the people came the man noticed that his neighbours were not in the crowd that gathered in his compound. When he asked his son what happened, the boy told him, “These are our true neighbours. I cried for help that our house was on fire, and these people came to help put out the fire. Our so-called neighbours did not care if our house burnt down!”
Your circle of friends will keep expanding when the going is good, but when you meet with hard times, that is when you know those who can actually stand by you in any weather. The majority are fair weather friends.
On this second day as we follow Jesus’ last days on earth, he told his disciples, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me.”
Well, Peter considered himself a true friend who will bear any danger, yet stand by Jesus. Jesus told him, “I tell you the truth, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me thrice.”
Petr insisted, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” Ironically, “…all the disciples said the same.” But when Jesus was arrested, “all the disciples deserted him and fled.”
Even then, before his arrest as he went to Gethsemane, he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him and “he began to be sorrowful and troubled.” My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went a little further and prayed, but when he returned he found them sleeping.” He was surprised that they couldn’t keep watch with him for one hour!
He urged them, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” He went away to pray and when he came back they were still sleeping. After the third time of prayer, his betrayer came with Jesus’ haters. And with a kiss Judas gave his Teacher away!
Jesus still called Judas friend as he told him, “Friend, do what you came for.”
We may quickly excuse ourselves by the doctrine of predestination and say that Jesus had said his abandonment by his friends was to fulfil the prophecy, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”
But No! True friends stand by each other in trying and troubling times. True friends do not betray their friends. True friends do not swear true friendship by mere lip service.
Peter, James and John were the innermost circle of the inner circle of Twelve. Jesus trusted them to take them further than the others. He expected them just to keep watch with him in his most painful last hours! But each time he came they were sleeping! Just like he told them, he is telling us too: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation…” He himself was at that critical point in life when he knew in his own experience that “the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
In his weak body he had prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me…” but in his spirit he was willing to obey: “Yes, not as I will, but as you will.”
Yes dear friend, at that moment when the body seeks to overpower the spirit, watch and pray not to yield to temptation.
Passion prayer: Holy Spirit give me the strength to stand for the Lord in his agony as I watch and pray. Amen!
Have a blessed Passion Tuesday! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.