“Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’”

In the previous text, Jesus predicted that the disciples would all fall away at the time of His arrest and cross. The disciples, especially, Peter said that he would never disown Jesus. In today's text, we see Jesus prayed and prepared for His upcoming death with prayer. We see the Jesus’ agony in His prayer to avoid the cross. Yet He prayed to submit Himself to God's will. Jesus knew that there was no other way to solve the sins of the world, except through His death on the cross. He prayed three times and fully prepared to face the arrest, trials, flogging, mockery, and extreme pains (physically and spiritually) of the cross. In this time of agony, Jesus sought the support from the three disciples. Yet they slept during these times of Jesus' prayer. Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (37-38). Jesus urged the disciples to pray. They failed to pray and all fell away at the time of Jesus' arrest. Peter even denied Jesus three times. Thus, Jesus' attitude should be our attitude towards prayer and carry the cross we have as Jesus' disciples (Mk 8:34). Perhaps, Jesus tells you and me, "Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your submission to the Father's will through prayer so that we have the forgiveness of all our sins and have God's kingdom. Help us to have a faithful life of prayer (one hour) and have Jesus' victories in life.