Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 NABRE
Jesus explains that the hour is near when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Before this happens He goes off by Himself to pray, speaking to His Father, committing to the Father’s will. But Jesus is sorrowful and in anguish, He knows what is about to happen will be difficult and require strength from God to withstand. As He prays His disciples are nearby, particularly close are Peter, James and John. Jesus asks them to keep watch. But they for some reason fall asleep, be it the lateness of the hour, the darkness, emotional stress of their own, the food and wine from the Passover meal. The fullness of what is about to happen has not made a complete impact on them. In their slumber they are failing Jesus. Three times Jesus wakes them and returns to His prayers. Over the next hours they will be greatly tested and most of them will fail, clearly they are not ready to face it. Peter, James and John exemplify this maxim, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” They have expressed every good intention to remain loyal to Jesus and even drink from the cup he will drink, (see Matthew 20:22, 26:35) but their human frailty is no match for what is about to happen. Jesus urges them to watch and pray. Jesus knows that their weakness cannot withstand what lies ahead. But He is confident too that they could meet the trial with God’s help, if only they would seek it.
This is the message for us; we are bearing many trials, we are in a place we have never been. We worry about losing jobs, homes, family, our trials are difficult and impossible to withstand. But we too should be confident though we are weak, God is strong. Seek God’s help.
Do you pray in times of crisis? Do you trust in God’s strength?
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