The brave fireman

Luke 22:39-46 (NLT)
39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40 There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” 41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. 45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”


Jesus prepares for His death by going to a place to pray. He asks the disciples to pray also that they may not give into temptation. Jesus is struggling against the flesh which wants to live, but He knows that He must face death in order that those who believe in Him will live an eternal life. Jesus prayed in great agony knowing what He was about to face. Upon returning to the disciples He finds them asleep and He asks why they are sleeping. Then He encourages them to get up and pray so they may not fall into temptation.


When you pass a fire house or a fire hydrant do you feel shame that you cannot put out a major fire by yourself? Do you look at firemen and think they are not needed and they serve no purpose? Most of us would say no to these questions. Most of us would say the fireman who risks his life to save people is important and needed. Yet there are some who struggle to believe in Jesus because they feel admitting their need for a savior makes them weak. They believe they can handle life on their own and there is no need for someone to step in and help. Yet every day we watch heroic firemen save the lives of others and we never once think the people they are saving are weak and incapable. We know the fire is greater than what they can handle and these brave men are there to assist. Jesus is always ready to step into our lives to help us avoid temptation. For He well understands the temptations of life and the great power it has. With the help of Jesus we are able to defeat the fires that pop up in our life. It is not a sign of weakness but an understanding that sin is a power greater than we can handle by ourselves.