Dear Christian friends:

Once again on this Ash Wednesday we enter into the holy season of Lent. This morning I went to my hardware store to buy something and the manager said, "Tonight is the big night." He meant tonight many churches will be open for special services to start the Lenten Season. I could tell by the sound of his voice that he was eager to get to his church tonight and watch Jesus prepare to suffer and die for his sins and all the world's sins.

Yes, tonight is the big night for all true Christians, because they have to hear and see the old and comforting event of Jesus' suffering and death and how He loved us and gave His life for us.

Not only Ash Wednesday, but the whole Lenten Season is a big and precious season for us Christians, because with one another here in our own church and with millions of Christians in other churches all over our country and in many other countries we make strong our faith by giving extra attention to Jesus' Passion.

We with many other Christians in many cities, states and countries will have special Wednesday evening services. We will come each Wednesday to watch with one another for an hour.

For our preaching this Lenten Season I have chosen several questions that appear in the Lenten Story. These are questions that Jesus and other people in the Lenten Story asked. If we study these questions and then ask ourselves these same questions and answer them, it will help us to understand better and believe stronger and love better.

Tonight we attend to a question that Jesus asked in the Garden of Gethsemane.


Why did Jesus ask that question? Because His three closest disciples, Peter, James and John were sleeping. They were not watching and praying with Him. Jesus came to the garden with eleven disciples, because He was very sad and troubled. Satan was tempting Him and trying to get Him to give up suffering and dying. Satan didn't want Jesus to die for our sins and by that free us from His power. He tried very hard to tempt Jesus to give up. So Jesus felt the need for prayer.

Jesus left eight disciples at the gate of the garden and then took the three other disciples into it. Why did He take these three with Him? He wanted them to pray with Him and help comfort and strengthen Him in doing God's good will. But they fell asleep. They did not help Jesus to do God's will. So Jesus asks after He finished His first prayer, "Could ye not watch with Me one hour?" (Matthew 26:40)

Jesus felt that they could watch and pray with Him for one hour. He was not expecting too much only one hour. Also Jesus knew that they needed to watch and pray for their own good. He says to them, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." (Matthew 26:41)

A little bit before Jesus had warned that they would give up faith in Him tonight and forsake Him. And Jesus told Peter, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." (Matthew 26:34) So we see Jesus asking this question for their own good.

Now Jesus did not only ask this question to warn and help the three careless disciples two-thousand years ago. He also intends this question for you and me, His sleeping and careless disciples today. So often we are careless and lazy or fooling around when we ought to watch and pray.

We think we are safe and have no troubles or problems or dangers and no temptations to watch and resist by God's Word and prayer. True, you came to church tonight, but why? Did you come because you felt weak and in danger of losing your faith? Did you come because you wanted to receive God's comfort and support for your faith? Or did you come because of habit or because you felt duty and forced?

Will you come again next Wednesday? Or do you come only on Ash Wednesday because many other people come on Ash Wednesday?

If we examine our hearts honestly we must often confess that we are not afraid of temptation, but we are in ease, smug self-satisfied and feel no need to watch and pray with Jesus and with each other.

How often do you pray at home or read your Bible or Portals of Prayer? How often do we feel Bible Class and Church unnecessary?

Yes, Jesus was thinking of you and me when He asked this question, "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?” Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." (Matthew 26:40-41) The devil has many tricks to lead us from faith in Christ. Judas he tempted with money. Peter he tempted with fear. So today Satan tempts you with money or other worldly pleasures such as lust or fear that you will lose friends or a job if you follow Jesus.

Jesus knows how weak we are. Here He says, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41) Our new man wants to serve Jesus and do His will, thank Him who died for us, but the old man, the flesh loves this here world, and all that is in this world, lust of the eye, pride of eye, pride of life, selfishness etc.

Watching with Jesus daily by reading Portals of Prayer will help much. Attending Wednesday Lenten Services and Sunday Services through these we see that Jesus was not proud and selfish, but loved us and suffered our mockery and sin and shame that we may have forgiveness and salvation. Seeing Jesus often will help us to watch and pray, confess our sins and failures and look to Him for mercy.

So let us each one of us accept Jesus' warning here and watch and pray more.

Amen.