Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak

Matthew 26:31-46

Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. Zech. 13:7

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will. Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!

It is Luke who depicts most vividly the agony of Christ's prayer in the garden. On the way to their special place, the olive-orchard of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. Jesus prepares his followers - Peter most of all - for their own failure.

The prospect of his suffering fills Jesus with horror. It was more than the fear of a terrible death, though no reasons are given here. Peter, writing later, says that Jesus 'was bearing our sins in His own body on the cross. (1 Peter 2:24)

Why?

Jesus knew what happens the next step, but the disciples did not sense what will be. 

For most of us same as Jesus described, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. So watch and pray so that we will not fall into temptation.

Jesus faces the coming death alone, his soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, but Jesus still chose to follow the way of the Lord.

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耶穌預言他被害，門徒會四散。彼得講大話，我們似乎也常常如此的說，沒有多久，我們可能就犯罪，違背神了。

客西馬尼園的禱告，看到耶穌面對軟弱，及門徒如何面對軟弱。主允許人跌倒，主復活後往加利利去等他們，是要他們重新開始。主知道我們會軟弱，會失敗，但是耶穌不會失敗，耶穌帶我們，讓我們靠耶穌重新開始。我們不要笑彼得，我們可能比彼得更軟弱，早就跑更遠，彼得還遠遠的跟著。自以為不會跌倒的，是最容易失敗的人。沒有人可以免疫軟弱。耶穌也是人，面對十架，他也會軟弱，難過，耶穌沒有用神性來面對。耶穌此時多麼需要有人陪他，明白他的苦難與軟弱。耶穌正視自己的軟弱，不足的，向天父傾心吐意！不是在宣告自己有信心！不是在喊口號。我們不要怕承認自己是軟弱的，我們只有在神面前承認自己軟弱，才能讓神幫助我們，不是我們不行神 旨意。不要照我們的意思，照主的意思，這是願意順服神。這樣照著神的旨意求，神垂聽。我們心裏願意，肉體軟弱不能拿來當做藉口。

起來！我們走吧。看哪，賣我的人近了！一般人是逃跑，但是耶穌卻往要捕捉他的人走去。耶穌沒有像彼得喊口號，反而是承認自己的軟弱。

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How?

Jesus shed his blood for our sins, what we can do is follow Jesus and proclaim the gospel to our neighbor. Be a good witness to attract people to come to Jesus.