Before Jesus was betrayed, he took Peter, James, and John with him when he went to pray. In verse 30 Jesus told Peter that before the rooster crowed two times, he would deny him three times.
Peter denied it because he did not believe he would do such a thing. Hadn’t he been with Jesus for 3.5 years? Hadn’t Jesus taught them and used them to work miracles in his name? Didn’t Jesus only take him, James, and John into his inner circle? When many of the people turned and left Jesus because he said they must eat his flesh and drink his blood didn’t Peter say that he would never leave. Didn’t Peter say, “Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death” Luke 22:23. Surely, he was not going to deny and turn his back on Jesus.
When the time came for Jesus to be taken. Jesus went away by himself to pray and when he returned, he found the disciples asleep. He spoke this to Peter. Simon, why are you sleeping? Could you not watch and stay awake for one hour? In verse 38 he told Peter to watch and pray lest he enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. He was referring back to when Peter said that he would not deny him. He was telling Peter to watch and pray in this hour because if he didn’t, he would fall into temptation. He was telling Peter you would like to do what you have spoken; however, your flesh is weak. If you spend time in prayer, you will be able to withstand when the soldiers come and take me away. If you watch and pray you will have the strength to stand and not deny knowing me when confronted three times. If you watch and pray.
This is what Jesus is saying to us today, watch and pray unless you enter into temptation and fall. If you watch and pray when temptation comes you will be able to resist because the spirit man will be strong, and you will have the strength to resist the enemy. Peter thought he was strong, just as many of us think we are strong, but often when the temptation comes, we fall. Let us wake up out of our sleep. Because the scripture says that we should watch and in Revelation 16:15 Jesus said “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”
