March 15th, 2026 - Painful Prayer

Scripture Passage:  Matthew 26:36-46

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Lent 4
Painful Prayer
Matthew 26:36-46

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Three stories of people who are a mess.

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Place of the Press
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane.

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Some things are best done alone or with a select few
 and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him,

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What do we do with this?
 and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them,
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

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Practiced Prayer
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed,
“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.
Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

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Angry or Understanding?
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.
41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

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The cup of wrath
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

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The Pain of Persistence
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

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Acceptance in Action
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

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Be a disciple - learn from the master
Not about your ability to focus, but the call to trust.