Matthew 26:30-46 KJV
30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

Peter is persistent in saying he will not forsake Jesus, though everyone else will. There is times in faith, where our very denial could be based on how we truly are behaving. However Peter will not deny him because of how he himself is acting, but because of fear the night of the betrayal of Judas and his own denial. The preparation for the road of the cross for Jesus begins with prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. He begins by praying, asking God to remove his cup from him. Yet he still finds the strength to say "not my will but as thou will be done" Jesus had his disciples with him in garden and told them to pray, and took three disciples with him a little further away. Peter, James and John, the last two being the sons of Zebedee. Sons of Zebedee were called to be disciples when tending to their fishing nets to follow Jesus. One of the thing that catches all of our attention not one disciple could stay awake with Jesus as he prayed. He told them to pray unless temptation befelled them for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Ever been going through a struggle and it seems even friends, and family are all asleep but you can not sleep yourself, you might even wonder through the house stopping by the kitchen, getting a cup of coffee, or going into the living room and turning on the tv, yet not paying any attention to what is on. Whatever is happening the next morning or next day is very important and the need of sleep maybe even more so, but right now you really need to talk to God about what is going to happen. Not completely sure you want to deal with whatever is bothering you, for it might be a surgery, maybe a new job, maybe a death of a love one, perhaps even moving out of the house onto the street. Those things should perhaps cause one not to sleep. Perhaps in a jail cell facing the trial of your own life, or the punishment of whatever you did. Whatever the reason you find yourself praying. I tell a story of God waking me up one night and saying praise him, and not one praise was on my lips, and the more I read the Psalms I seem not to find a praise. I was in the need of Thank you Jesus, and Thank you Lord. Yet my ability to praise had left my lips perhaps because of the hardship in life, I forgotten how to praise my Lord.

The hour of prayer for Jesus and his disciples came because of events coming. Christ would go the cross, and Peter, James and John needed sleep more then prayer in their own opinion. Their willingness to obey Jesus, gone with the need of sleep. The hour of Christ communication with the Father, a deep groan within his body that words beyond the simpleness that say remove the cup Lord and what ever your will be, let your will be done. Christ in the flesh, feeling the torment of what was coming, yet fully knowing who he was, he would not remove his cup of torment for his part in insurrection. His part, though he killed no one, only turned the money changers tables over and that was enough because he had rode triumphally as a King into Jerusalem taking the temple back for God and even done miracles that same day in the Temple. Yet he knew this time the religious leaders would throw him to the legal law for the events that happened. Barabbas and a few others had been arrested for the events at the Temple. If it was not for prophecy of Jesus going to the cross would anyone believe God's involvement especially after the Gospels were written. After all even Isaiah declares that Jesus would be lead like a sheep to the slaughter. We got to ask how important is prophecy surrounding Christ, including taking our sins to the altar(cross). It is essential, but God was going to make Christ death stick in order for the mob to have him crucified.

Why is the hour Christ final temptation so important. Maybe if nothing more then to help us in our own hour of temptation to keep us from running from the will of God in our life no matter the events to follow. Maybe with the knowledge we are not like Christ. We can not call the legions of angels to protect us, only can we call on God and His Son. Our government troops could surround any of our leaders at the hour they are needed. There protection far greater then most realize, the day of the uprising in Washington prove that, and yet even so there were lost of life. What am I saying Jesus could of stopped his cross he would carry, but He was willing to carry out the Father's will despite his suffering. Once the words are out of God's mouth they take life form not of our own imagination but the power of God going forth into the world. When God said the Savior would suffer for us, he meant it. Yet he showed mercy to Nineveh. He should mercy to the sinner. Did he show mercy to his Son, perhaps in the events leading to the cross not taking forever to be completed. If Jesus was on trial in the USA, it be less then seven years before the trial was completed by law. A speedy trial is part of the constitutional rights. For Christ the suffering would not be long in the flesh but the torment of heart would be knowing what was to come, and seeing those that follow failures. Yet because of who He is he could of prevented, or stopped His suffering for us, but he went to his cross, because He loved us.

Jesus prays three times and Peter would deny Jesus three times. Denial being out of temptation, Christ own remove this cup was the last moments of human temptation he had. The power was not Christ will but God The Father's will be done. Peter had no power within him to face his fear and not to deny Christ. Those who suffered for Christ sake know the power of God to endure the suffering. How do I know. The hour of my wreck I cried out to Jesus, He was there with me. His peace surrounded me, despite the pain. I went through cancer with the peace of Christ. The point being God with us who is against us. Does it mean as a believe we will not have to endure hardship, pain, torment and so forth? These churches that preach Christian life is a glorious life and if you failing something wrong with you, needs to examine the cross a little more. God allowed his Son to suffer though he had the power to stop it. Yet God was there all the way tell the last breath Christ took, and then he went to the grave, only to be resurrected for our sake. For our knowledge of Christ suffer for sins, but though we be dead, we will rise victorious because of belief in him. Paul said it like this, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Our body facing decay but our spirit not. Our bodies having the hope of resurrection or a new house? A new house one built not for decay.

Christ knew God's will went beyond the cross it went to the resurrection and beyond. My point is Christ could see the future hope for all of us, to be willing to do it God's way. As a believer are we willing to pray, God's will be done. Are we willing to testify about the works of Christ in our life, despite the persecution. It sounds simple but in truth it is not, sometimes we are like Peter in our heart with strong desire but weak in the physical flesh. The believer desire to say we will go to our own cross if necessary, but reality without the power of God we can not. Our human weakness will destroy us, unless we acknowledge the power of God and allow the intercession of God in our life in our weakness.

Judas hour of darkness came the moment he agreed to betray Christ, permission given to him by Christ at the last supper, and in the garden the hour of betrayal came with a kiss, not fearing what would happen to Jesus or even himself for that matter, for the silver was the greed of his eye. There is a difference in Peter and Judas. The difference is the intention of the heart. God sees the heart, a place no one else sees. Be like Peter with a heart for Christ. Be like Jesus willing to allow God's will be done for the sake of others to testify of God's grace and goodness in our life. Be like Peter when he sees his weakness and repents to God. We need Christ to stand boldly in faith. We need the power of the Holy Spirit because our flesh is weak, but our spirit and faith is strong. The hour of pain is something no one wants to experience, yet God is able to enable us to endure our own cross.

David in Old Testament knew what was to have God protection and hand on his life, despite any human suffering he endured in his life. Battle of war is not easy and he was a warrior King. Suffering is part of our world. Next time you stub your toe, could you have avoided it. What about a hang nail, what about a wreck, what about a fall, what about disease or fire? Let us pray for healing, pray for deliverance when our flesh is weak. Let us get up in the middle of the night to pray if God requires it. Let us pray when we are stressed about life woes. Those in nations of persecution, pray for God's grace and protection. Jesus knew it was important to pray in the hour of need.

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to endure the hardships of life along with the joys of life, because Christ was willing to suffer for our sins, for our weaknesses, for our failings that affect our relationship with God. Help us to pick up our cross and follow in Christ example, praying not our will Lord, but your will be done in our life. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Proverbs 21:1-3 KJV
1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Colossians 2:20-23 KJV
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.