the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 4 of 5
Luke 22:39-53
This solemn account of the scene in Gethsemane contains details which Luk alone gives us. Here we see the Lord Jesus on His knees in v. 41; an angel appears to Him to strengthen Him in v. 43. It is the anguish of the combat, and we know the enemy He was having to face. So intense is the conflict that at one time His sweat changed into drops of blood! But the anguish itself demonstrates His perfection, for while evil often makes little impression on our hardened hearts, the thought of bearing sin seized this perfect Man with horror and fear.
So the Lord Jesus approaches His disciples whom He finds asleep. Overwhelmed by slumber on the mount in the presence of His glory (Luke 9:32) they are just the same here in the presence of His suffering. He had taught them to ask, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Luke 11:4; Matthew 6:13). If only they could have prayed thus at the hour when the enemy was approaching!
Now we see Judas and the band which has come with him. It is marvellous to see the Lord, who a moment earlier had been going through the most awful of struggles, now showing to these men perfect patience, perfect grace (v. 51) and perfect calm.
