Christian Family Services Ministry

4-5-2021 – A Word to the Wise – Consider what you would say. Having all your present knowledge, and the existence of the ability to time travel to the past if you were transported to the garden of Gethsemane at 1 AM April 2, 33 AD and you walk in on the scene of Jesus prostrate on the ground and His three close friends sleeping. What would you say, or do?

Consider these three men; Peter, James and John. Replace yourself with James since we know very little about him. Peter and John we know a lot about.

So Peter the spokesman for the disciples. Perhaps the oldest and married. Jesus tells him to watch and pray. This is the second time within an hour Jesus warns Peter he is about to make a huge mistake. This final time h tells him pray that you do not sin. Simply speaking at this point in time Peter could have avoided betraying his friend. Do you understand what is being said here? Jesus tells him that the future may be changed.

Some may say that this was not changeable. I disagree. Turn to I Samuel and read with me:

Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” 2 Therefore David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” 3 But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” 4 Then David inquired of the LORD again. And the LORD answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” 5 And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand. 7 Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” 8 And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 9 David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” 10 Then David said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. 11 Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD, the God of Israel, please tell your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.” 12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will surrender you.” 13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah,(ESV)

What is important here is the Lord told David exactly what to do and what the consequences would be. But it did not happen because David listened to the Lord and understood the warning.

It was no different for Peter. The Lord told him what would happen in order to change the future. He did not listen. A second time the Lord warned Peter to pray and take heed. Why? Because the future could be altered. But we like Peter neglect the warnings the Lord gives us in life through his word, by his ministers, by our prayers and we turn our heads away.

So now we are in the garden. Why are we here? What does the Lord want to warn us about? Will it change the future?

Notice John is present yet the only thing the Lord said to him was to watch and pray with me, John carries some of the burdens that is overwhelming me. But no one was there for him. It would appear that God sent an angel to comfort him. These two verses are not in the earliest text that we have. It may or may not have occurred. Personally, I do not see how even an angel could comfort Jesus at this moment in time. If an angel did then Jess immediately rose to meet his friend and betrayer.

Now it is your turn. Your there. What will you say or do?