The Last Hours...

“He loved them to the last and to the highest degree” – John 13: 1

Jesus was about to face the biggest challenge of His humanity, what did He do?  What did He say? What was His last request? What was on His heart in The Last Hours...

Jesus gathered His closet friends, He spoke from his heart, He made promises and He asked them to remember Him.  Afterwards, they walked together to His favorite getaway place, the garden on the Mt. of Olives.  

With his friends around him, Jesus asked them to watch and pray.  He did not ask them for their advice or opinions; He did not ask them to join Him in a prayer circle, to prophesy, pray in agreement or to lay hands on Him...He asked them to pray, so that THEY would not fall into temptation.   He asked, more like begged them to become one with Father, for their benefit, not His.  Furthermore, He did not need their swords, even though He requested they bring them, He did not need them to intervene or provide protection! 

With the cross before Him, He was concerned about their well being. Jesus knew unless they trusted in and were one with the Father, they would not be able to get through the next few  hours and days.  He knew they needed to rely on the Father to get them through, scattering and running away, denying Him, their bereavement, their doubt and their confusion of what lay ahead.   

Jesus asked them to pray so that they could find their way back.  He asked them to pray so that they could believe again.  He asked them to pray so their sorrow could be exchanged for garments of praise, their grief into joyous strength.  He asked them to pray so faith would defeat fear and blessed assurance would conquer confusion. He asked them to pray so hope could be released into their tomorrow. He asked them to pray so His promises would be fulfilled.

Today, Jesus still asks us to watch and pray.  Not for His benefit, but for ours.  He asks us to pray, so that we may become one with the Father, as He and His Father are one.   He asks us to watch and pray so that we can be filled with His strength, with His joy.  He asks us to pray that we might overcome the world.  He asks us to pray so that we can hear the voice of the Father.  He asks us to pray so that our spirit would be filled and heart and soul comforted.  He asks us to pray that we might be forgiven.  He asks us to pray that His kingdom would come and His will be done.  He asks us to pray...because He loves us.

Happy Easter....