SEVEN DAYS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD – Day 2

A Holy Week Prayer Guide

Day 2 Monday: The Grief of the Garden

Key Verses:

“Then they come to a place whose name is Gethsemane; and Yeshua says to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He takes with Him Peter, Jacob, and John; and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. And He tells them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and began praying that if possible this hour might pass Him by”(Mark 14:32-35, TLV).

As per Jewish custom, Jesus prayed three times a day; morning prayer at sunrise, afternoon prayer at 3pm, and evening prayer at sunset. But these hours were just the tip of the iceberg. Jesus’ entire existence was characterized by a life of prayer. In fact, a better way to put it would be to say, Jesus lived the prayer life. Why pray so much? Companionship? Obviously. Obedience? Definitely. Direction? Clearly. And yet, in this passage Jesus gives us a glimpse into his enthusiasm for prayer. Jesus prayed because He knew the power of temptation. Jesus knew prayer would overcome the grief, the agony, and the temptation of the garden. The Bible tells us, He was tempted in all ways, but he did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). Even here on the Mount of Olives, when the sin of all humankind was placed on Him, He did not sin. Prayer is paramount to resisting temptation. Furthermore, knowing the sway of temptation, He cautions three of His closest friends, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.”

Every day, we face a barrage of temptation. Forces from within and without entice us toward fear, greed, lust, selfishness, and all manner of unholiness. But we too, can go into the garden with Jesus. We too, can stay alert and pray that we will not fall into temptation, but rather abandon ourselves into God’s hands and His will. He will give us His strength, endurance, and victory, if we chose to let Him.

Today’s Prayer

“Holy and Magnificent Father, thank you for the grace that Your son, Lord Jesus gave us in the Garden. It is such an undeserved gift. It was there that He won the victory over sin, by taking ours upon Himself; face-down in the dirt, at the feet of gnarly, old olive trees. Covered in repugnant sin; reeking from its fowl stench, He then carried it through the streets of Jerusalem, for all the heavenly host to see, and nailed it to a cross. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Thank you for not giving into temptation. Thank you for disregarding the shame (Hebrews 12:2). So, in gratitude, we abandon ourselves into Your hands. Forgive us for the times we have given in to temptation. Cleanse us anew. Thank you, dear Lord. We pray for our friends, family, and community to find You and embrace Your salvation and grace during these tumultuous days of Coronavirus. At Easter, Jesus, you won the victory and You can help all of us to be victorious in You. Thank you for touching people and drawing them to You.

Additional Prayers

• Thank you, Emmanuel, our with-us God. You will never leave or forsake us but instead help us during seasons of temptation.
• Pray that we will be victorious as You were in the Garden.
• Pray for His strength and His grace.
• Pray that every time we are tempted to fear we remember the promises of Jesus and choose faith over fear.
• Pray that people will be drawn to You, Father this Easter and come to you in repentance and a desire for relationship with You.