Palm Sunday  –  Julie Foster

The Disciples

Read Matthew 26:26-56

Reflection ~

As Jesus and His disciples were walking to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus predicted Peter’s denial and told the disciples that they would all fall away. Of course, the disciples denied that they would ever do this. Verse 35 states, “But Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the other disciples said the same” (ESV). Right here the disciples are claiming that they would rather die than walk away from Jesus. Later, in verse 56, we see that their actions don’t match the declaration they made previously. It states, “Then all the disciples deserted him and fled” (ESV).

As Jesus took the disciples with Him to Gethsemane to pray, He said to the disciples, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (v. 38) The disciples were right there with Jesus. It’s hard to imagine that they couldn’t sense the gravity of what was happening and the sacrifice that Jesus was about to make. He even tells them that His soul is overwhelmed. Three times, Jesus comes back to the disciples to find them sleeping. All He asked was for them to be present in that moment with Him. Yet they just couldn’t stay awake. Jesus was about to perform the biggest sacrifice there is and the disciples clearly didn’t grasp the weight of that.

As we begin Holy Week, are we acknowledging the greatness of what Jesus did for us? Or are we falling asleep? How often do I claim to be a follower of Jesus and yet I don’t follow the direction He gives me? When push comes to shove are we really willing to lay down our lives for Christ and the Kingdom? As believers, we hear the story of Jesus dying on the cross often and it’s easy to ignore the weight of what Jesus actually did for us. So today and every day, let’s live our lives in light of the fact that someone else paid for our salvation, and honor Him with every aspect of our lives. 

Prayer ~ 

Lord, I thank You for the sacrifice that You made for me. Thank You, Lord, for Your unending patience with me as I fail time and time again to be present with You. Father, I ask that this week and every other week, I would understand and recognize the sacrifice You made. Help me to continually be willing to lay down my life and possessions for You and follow the things that You ask of me. Amen