Walking With Jesus: Do YOU Ask For Prayer?

Walking With Jesus: A Study Through Mark
What follows is what I feel Jesus is teaching me as I read through the Gospel of Mark

Walking With Jesus: Don't Be Too Prideful to Ask For Prayer

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

Mark 14:32-42 // Matt 26:36-46 // Luke 22:39-46

³²They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.”³³He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed.³⁴He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

³⁵He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by.³⁶“^kAbba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

³⁷Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?³⁸Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to ^atemptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

³⁹Then Jesus left them again and prayed the same prayer as before.⁴⁰When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. And they didn’t know what to say.

⁴¹When he returned to them the third time, he said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But no—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.⁴²Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

 

Here, Jesus is, in a low point in His life, most undoubtedly the lowest thus far in His 33yearsish on earth. And He asks the disciples, to "stay here and keep watch with me" and then He goes just a little ways away and grievingly prays out loud to God, the same prayer, more than once.  The phrase in the english "stay here and keep watch with me" I always assumed was for the Roman guards. As if Jesus wanted protection or something ... but that doesn't really make sense does it? Jesus doesn't need protection from the guards. It's a chapter down the line that He chooses to die for them. And it's not like Jesus needs protection for His surroundings in a garden. What's gonna come by, a snake? (btw, did you see that movie clip in passion of the christ, Jesus has got some stompin' action!). no, the phrase "stay here and keep watch with me" is likely meaning something entirely different: "hey, please pray for me." Jesus told His disciples, "I'm totally emotionally and spiritually wasted and drained. pray for me, please."

 

i was in my small group the other night and at the end of the schpeel they always ask for prayer requests, etc ... I never do it. I never talk about my work or my real troubles with my small group. Maybe, once in a while I'll have them pray for a family member or friend, but me? Heck no. "I don't need their prayers" I unconsciously tell myself. Even if two days ago I was totally crushed by a situation, I feel it would be too vulnerable of me to ask for prayer. Or that I would be sharing too much. and so I don't. I just contain it all inside. As if no one else would understand that I, as a Christian (or a Youth Director), could possibly have personal struggles with life and/or with God. 

 

Would Jesus look at me with a queer look if He knew that? Because the fact is, even Jesus asked for His fellow God-followers to pray for Him. Did they fail? Well ... yeah. but He was humble enough to ask for their help. Their support. Their encouragement. The God of the universe wanted 3 regular dudes to pray for Him. And I can't ask anyone to pray for me?

Load a junk. 

 

I believe what Jesus is teaching me in this passage of Mark is this: Don't be too prideful to ask for prayer. 

Don't hold anything back. don't just say, "hey ... i'd appreciate your prayers." say what's on your mind! Jesus said, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death! Please stay and pray for me!" that's pretty intense. i shouldn't be afraid of allowing the body of Christ, of righteous persons to pray for me, and show concern for me, and build me up, and love me. 

Jesus asked people to pray for Him. Surely, I should at the least do the same.