Pray that you may not enter into temptation.

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And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

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The Son of God was all alone in his final hours but he was not. While men slept angels ministered. In agony beyond comprehension and sweating drops of blood the Son of God found strength on his knees. He was the only one in that garden who had not yielded to temptation. The garden story was being rewritten that day as Jesus said no to temptation and yielded himself fully to God. In that hour the sin of Adam was trumped by the obedience of Christ.

About the prayer. We who pray the Lord's prayer often say "Thy will be done" in a way that is sometimes religiously rote and cavalier. I wonder if we would be so willing to pray "Thy will be done" if we understood that His will involved a cross. Perhaps we, like Jesus, would also be in blood sweating agony if we understood the ways of the will of God? Yet maybe, like Jesus, we would be willing to pray such a prayer if our inner eyes were opened to our future resurrection?

Thy kingdom come and Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven.

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