“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”” Luke 22:39-53 NIV
God of sacrifice,
You gave the sacrifice, You were the sacrifice and You redeemed the lost. And yet the tired disciples could not sacrifice one hour for prayer in the garden. We have all known those times when fear, stress and tiredness have just enveloped us and we have slept. You are right Father, sometimes when are tired or weary the enemy uses that time to tempt us. He does not trip us up when we are looking where we are going! Help us when we are vulnerable. Thank You that you forgive us when we slip.
I love Luke’s narration of events because they contain those compassionate little extras that show us Your character. I was so relieved, when I read Luke’s account, to see the servant of the high priests ear was healed. Jesus was never too occupied to notice his need. He put right the harm that Peter did. You were true to who You are in every situation. Sometimes You have to mop up after us, go back and repair damage we may have caused even unwittingly. And we are eternally grateful that You accept us warts and all (as Oliver Cromwell said to the portrait artist). We cannot imagine what You went through – but You did it for us, undeserving as we are. How can we thank you?
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 10th November 2025
The original version video is below at the bottom. I like the new and the old.
My life flows on in endless song
Above earth’s lamentation
I hear the sweet though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear that music ringing
It finds an echo in my soul
How can I keep from singing?
While though my joys and comforts die
I know my Savior liveth
While though the darkness gather round
Songs in the night He giveth
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that refuge, clinging
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?
I lift my eyes, the cloud grows thin
I see the blue above it
And day by day, this pathway smooths
Since first I learned to love it
The peace of Christ makes fresh, my heart
A fountain ever springing
All things are mine, since I am His
How can I keep from singing?
The peace of Christ makes fresh, my heart
A fountain ever springing
All things are mine, since I am His
How can I keep from singing?
Lyrics: Original Hymn unknown
New words and arrangement: Fionan De Barra and Keith Getty