THE GARDEN
Read: Matthew 26:36-46 + John 17

Today we spend time with Jesus in the Garden. The first scripture out of Matthew shows us Jesus’s distress in prayer and also emphasizes how easy it can be to get distracted, even in times that should be super focused. The disciples fall asleep. They lose sight of the request to watch and pray.

We’re halfway through Holy Week. How are you doing? Have you found yourself getting distracted or losing steam during a week that is intended to be hyper focused on Christ? No shame, but if that’s the case let Christ invite you back into his story today. Return to him with your full attention. Watch and pray.

Today we want to focus on the second scripture out of John, which tells us what Jesus prayed in the Garden. Once again we can be encouraged by the example that Jesus sets as he prays for three things.

  1. Himself

  2. His Disciples

  3. 3. All Believers

Jesus prays that God would glorify him. That the work he began in his son would be brought to completion so that people would know, trust, and follow him.

Jesus prays for his friends. He prays protection and wisdom over them. That they would find strength in the troubling time to come and that the truth of God would live in them and spread to others.

And then, finally, Jesus prays for all believers. He prays for those who will believe in him in the future. I hope you feel the weight today of the fact that moments before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus was praying for you. Praying love, faith, unity, and righteousness over you and me. What an incredible gift!

As we sit in the story of Jesus this week, we can be encouraged to do as he did.

What is one way that you need prayer today? What is something you could bring to God about yourself? Scripture says we can have confidence in bringing our concerns to God (1 John 5:14) and that He is near when we need him most (Psalm 34:18). How do you need God today? Ask him to speak to you, to build you up, to lead you through this week.

How can you pray for your friends today? Remember, we reject an individualized faith and trust in a spiritual family doing life together as a better way to live. How can you lift up your family? What if Holy Week was full of people lifting each other up in prayer. That we would be protected, encouraged, and bold in our faith. That’s a family that is truly better together.

And lastly how can you pray for believers outside of your personal spiritual family? How can you pray for our church, for other churches, for our city, for our world? Jesus doesn’t stop at the group that he’s intimately close with. He prays for all believers. May the work and words of Jesus have an impact this week that reaches far beyond our individual circles of friends and family.

Reflection Question:
Reflect on the questions above and write down at least one prayer for each section - a prayer for yourself, your community, and the church.

Prayer Prompt:
Spend time praying for each of the things you listed.