Monday, June 4, 2018

Matthew 26:36-44; Psalm 134

Matthew 26:36-44
Jesus went into the garden of Gethsemane to pray taking Peter, James and John with Him. He asked them to remain in a certain place while He went a little ahead. He was in great distress, not because He feared suffering and death, but He knew that "the cup" would require Him to bear in His body the sins of the world! See 1 Peter 2:24, "He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross..."  This is truly impossible for us to understand perfectly. Perhaps it's a little like expecting a gnat or fruit fly to understand the suffering of a complex human being! But we know it's true.

It's also important to note that Jesus was not resisting God's will. Though it was very hard and horrible and repulsive to Him, He knew that this was the reason He came into the world.

Peter and the others had promised to never deny the Lord, yet they could not even stay awake to pray with Him in His darkest hour. This reminds us how weak we all are. Jesus even reminded them of this, as He also reminds us. "Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!" v. 41

Though the disciples failed, Jesus won the spiritual victory.

Psalm 134
This psalm is literally about a small group of night watchmen for the Temple of the Lord. Do you think there is a job drearier in the world than being a night watchman? Perhaps there is, but I doubt many children dream of growing up to be a night watchman. But I love this psalm! These workers are so joyful and full of praise just like we should be! Our service for God may be unseen and unnoticed and un-praised by people, but God sees it and He hears our praise as we work for Him. I pray that I'll always look at my work for the Lord as an act of praise and worship.

We sometimes sing this particular psalm. The first link below is children singing it. I think the second one is particularly charming because they sing the "echo" part, and they also sing it in the Tamil language reminding us that God wishes to be God over every tongue and nation!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2di1Qmf3qPQ


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfshBRcjcJQ

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