Mark 4:38... Watch and Pray...


This is the very word that Jesus said to Peter, James and John in the gardern of Gethsemane...

i was just thinking about stress... how many people are stressed in their daily lives. Like how students worry about projects, assignment and deadline. Adults dreads about their career and family...

Leads me to think how has Jesus redeemed us from stress... and i remembered that Pastor once preached about Jesus sweating blood in the garden, thus redeeming us from mental turmoil.

I simply just turned to one of the gospels and i came to mark 14:32-42 where the scene of the garden was described. That was also the opening scene for the movie, Passion Of The Christ. Jesus that was portrayed in the movie fits almost so accurately with the gospel. Jesus' troubled and deeply distressed and HE even said "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death."

In Luke's account, it is written "HIS sweat became like greeat drops of blood falling down to the ground." Pastor said before that there a medical logic behind this that a man under great stress can sweat blood, sweat mingle with blood out from the pores.. Interestingly only in Luke, there's this sentence, "then an angel appeared to HIM from heaven, strengthening him.

(bear with me, i know this is alittle long)

Jesus knew what was going to happen.. all along HE knew what was going to happen but Jesus walked right into it!! Thank God HE went through all these that we don't have to go through.

Ever have any problems and trials happening to you. You knew what will happen will you walk into it... When it happen, you go around frantically telling everyone, "i knew it was going to happen.." ever did that? stupid.. haha.. yea.. cool man.. refering to myself too...

Many lessons i have learned from this scene.. that is to watch and pray... In 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, walk about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Many times we anticipate or sense temptations, trials, or even created one for ourselves sometimes. That' why we WATCH... sober means, awake, discreet and vigilant simple means to watch. Be sensitive to the prompting of the holy Spirit. Be discerning to know what is to come.

What do we do when we know something is going to come? What did Jesus do? HE prayed... we should do the same! praying isnt telling God anything new.. i believe no sinners nor saints can surprise HIM. Praying is simply being real with God. Being yourself and confessing the promises Christ died to give you. HE will walk through the valley of the shadow of death with you. And HE got his baseball bat.. no nono.. i mean HIS rod and HIS staff with HIM.. haha..

Yea.. watch and pray and be real to HIM.. Paul said he rather boast in his infirmities so that the power of GOD may rest upon him.. and JESUS said "My grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in weaknesses." =)

Ah... That's how God teaches u how to made lemonade with HIM.. using every single lemon that the devil throws at you.. don't waste lemons.. =p