Then he returned to the three disciples and found them asleep; and he said to Peter, “How is it that you three were not able to keep watch with me for even one hour? Keep watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26: 40-41 (GNT)
Scripture: Matthew 26: 36-45
In the previous devotion, we saw Jesus struggling as He prayed that some other way than His death accomplish God’s plan of salvation. Three times Jesus interrupted His prayer so that He could go check on Peter, James, and John. This devotion looks at how we should show concern for others through intercessory prayer.
When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, He left the bulk of the disciples somewhere after they had entered the Garden (Mt. 26: 36). He pulled Peter, James, and John to go a little further into the Garden (Mt. 26: 37). They were charged to keep watch (Mt. 26: 38).
We know this wasn’t the first time that Jesus had singled out these three to be witnesses at a special event. They made up His inner circle.
Jesus took only these three with Him when He healed Jairus’ daughter (Mk. 5: 37). In Matthew 17: 1, it is recorded that they alone were present when Jesus met Moses and Elijah when He was transfigured. Now, they are singled out again.
Jesus Prayed
In the previous devotion, we looked at how Jesus struggled with His mission. In Matthew 26: 38 it says He told His inner three that “… The sorrow in my heart is so great that it almost crushes me …” (GNT). He only shared that with His closest friends.
To read Did Jesus Struggle With His Mission?, click the button below.
Jesus poured His heart out to His Father — so much so that “… he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Lk. 22: 44 NIV). Jesus shared His struggles with His Father.
The Disciples Were Supposed to Be Praying
Three times, Jesus went back to check on His inner circle of friends. The first time, He said, “… How is it that you three were not able to keep watch with me for even one hour? Keep watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
It always has amazed me that, even though Jesus was going through this spiritual tornado, He was still concerned about His disciples. Why wasn’t He wrapped up in His feelings and His terror of what He was going to have to go through? Yet, Jesus kept coming back to check on His friends.
I wonder, though, if He came back so many times because they weren’t doing what they had been tasked to do. “On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation’” (Lk. 22: 40 NIV). They were supposed to be praying for themselves — and I bet Jesus expected them to pray for Him, too.
How Do We Apply It?
We have friends and acquaintances who may need us to be concerned about them. They may be going through their own spiritual tornado. We need to be there to support them.
It may mean going to their houses and making sure they are okay. It may mean keeping in touch through texting, emails, or phone calls a little more often than we normally do. The most important thing we can do for them is pray.
Sometimes, though, we get caught up in our needs and wants that we don’t spend as much time praying for others as we should. We, like Jesus, need to interrupt our prayers for ourselves to pray for others.
Intercessory prayer is when you pray for the needs of others. Ephesians 6: 18 says, “Do all this in prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God’s people” (GNT). The “this” referred to here is putting on the armor of God.
To me, this really drives home the expectation at we pray for each other through intercessory prayer. (I Tim. 2: 1). While we can be strong and faithful when fighting battles against Satan, it is encouraging and strengthening to know other people are praying for us.
I had someone tell me they were praying for me daily. We met at a mother-daughter banquet that the church I was going to at the time held. Many years after that day, she told me that her first impression of me was, “What a pretty girl in a pretty dress.” Then she thought, “Oh no. Something is wrong.” Even though she didn’t know me, she said that she started praying for me that day — every day.
Over the years when things were going particularly difficult, I would think, “It will be okay. My prayer warrior is praying for me.” That would encourage me.
What Are We Supposed to Pray For When We Pray for Others?
The most important thing to pray for is the person’s salvation. We are to pray as Paul did, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is that they may be saved” (Rom 10: 1 ESV). We should want all to have what we have.
When sin entered the picture, so did disease. “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord” (Jas. 5: 14 NIV). We are to pray for the healing of others.
This is the hard one. We are to pray for those that are harassing us, bullying us, or taking advantage of us. “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt. 5: 44 HCSB). And this doesn’t mean we are to just pray to God that they meet karma. We are to pray for healing — spiritual, physical, emotional. We are to pray that they become the people God has called them to be.
We are to follow Jesus’ example and show concern for other people. We need to break out of our self-centeredness and focus on others. Even if we feel we cannot support the in other ways, we can always pray.
Father. Jesus showed us that we must have concern for other people, even when we are experiencing trials. Help us to support others so that they may see You shining through us. Amen.
What do you think? Is intercessory pray easy for you or a challenge? Why do you think that is so? Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
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