Peripatetics: The Art of Walking
Monday, March 21, 2005
Like I said yesterday, sometimes I struggle with the timeline of the Easter story. I mean, I was raised in a Christian environment and could probably put a lot of the pieces of the puzzle together, but it helps me when I think through the story in terms of what happened on what night or day and at what time did all this transpire.
Don't forget that, when you're studying the Word as a student (as opposed to devotionally) you'll want to get your Bible out, and maybe a notebook. You'll want to be in a comfortable place with good lighting and such...and make sure to spend a few minutes in prayer, too, before starting out.
And, to give you some context to this particular study we're in today, yesterday, we looked at what transpired on Thursday night from 6 to 11:30 PM. Basically, it was the Last Supper and the events that transpired there.
Now, tonight, we'll pick up the story right after that. Turn to Matthew 26: 30-46, and answer these questions (don't read ahead until you've answered them, okay?):
WHERE are they going in v. 30 & WHAT were they doing?
WHAT does Jesus tell them and WHAT is Peter’s reaction in vv. 31—33? WHAT is Jesus’ response in v. 34? WHAT is Peter’s reply in v. 35? The others?
WHERE are they in v. 36 and WHAT did Jesus ask them to do?
WHO is highlighted in v. 37 and WHAT was their emotional state?
WHAT is Jesus’ emotional state in v. 38 and WHAT does He ask them to do?
WHAT is the content of Jesus’ prayer in v.39 & v. 42?
WHAT do the disciples do in v. 40 & in v. 43? Does it happen again in v. 44?
You'll find that they sang a hymn and then headed out to the Mount of Olives. Jesus talks to Peter and tells him they will all fall away, and says He will be raised in verse 32. Peter tells Jesus the other guys might fall away, but he won't...to which Jesus tells him that not only will he fall away, but he'll deny Christ 3 times before the sun comes up. All the disciples tell Him they'll die before that happens.
In verse 36, they arrive at the garden at Gethsemene and Jesus tell them to sit while He goes to pray. He took Peter, James and John (the two sons of Zebedee) a bit closer, who were greatly grieved and distressed. He asks them to keep watch while He prays, and He, too is greatly grieved. He went away to pray, and twice He tells the Father He wants the "cup" removed from Him, but if the Father wants, He will succomb to the Father's will for Him. The disciples fall asleep three times.
There is a great correlation in Luke 22: 39--46. There we get a little more information as to what Christ was going through. We learn that He wanted the disciples to pray "that they may not enter temptation." We learn that the disciples were a stone's throw away. We learn that angels were ministering to Jesus. We then get a description of what it means to have His soul greatly distressed: He was in "agony", praying "fervently" so that His sweat became as drops of blood. (It's been proven that under times of extreme duress that blood can come out of your sweat glands--an condition called haematedrosis). We learn what He said to them after He woke them up, too. Read through it and see what else you can glean an piece this part of the story together with the first part.
So, what do you get by way of application? For me, it's the idea that I can so easily identify with the disciples, that no matter how well-intentioned I am, I can "fall asleep" on the job. That kind of thing where I can set out to study the Word, or pray for my students, or my family...whatever...and still get easily distracted by maybe a nice meal, or the lateness of the hour, or failure to understand the gravity of what's going on around me. Oddly enough, it usually ends the same way it does for the disciples...more on that tomorrow as we study the arrest.
Brent 10:28 PM
Comments:
verse 41 really hits home with me in that the christian life is not a sunday to sunday function but an every hour, every moment, lifestyle. satan roams around like a roaring lion seeking to devour those who have fallen asleep. we must incessantly keep watch and pray continuously.
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