Jesus changed his mind about going to the cross, until...

 ³⁵ Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ “Abba,^[f] Father,”he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

³⁷ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.“Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14

Was Jesus tempted to not go through with the plan to die on the cross?  If so, how did he overcome the temptation? These two passages are definitely connected.

Before we look at Peter and the impact of his sleeping when he should have been praying, let’s take a moment to look at Jesus prayer.  First, he postured himself appropriate to the situation.  The passage says that he fell to the ground.  Most likely he was bowing down and facing the dirt.  This position shows a humility and honor to the one that you are addressing.  It allows for one to pour forth the heart with little distractions.  When was the last time that you prayed while on the ground?  Pride keeps standing tall, brokenness bows low.

Second, Jesus expressed his request with intimacy.  God the Father was not some Deity way far away in the heavens.  Jesus prayed with affection, Abba.  We would say Daddy or papa.  Jesus addressed God as one who cared for him.  This was not a new thing, but he was accustomed to talking with God this way.  In a crisis, it is good to already be on intimate speaking terms with God.

Lastly Jesus asked for a change in God’s plan while respecting his sovereign authority.  It may seem like weakness to not fight back.  But Jesus knew that all of the ill treatment that he was about to receive was ordained by God.  So, when the extreme trial came, Jesus had prepared his heart and his emotions in the garden on the ground.

Peter, however, slept through his training time.  In just a few hours he would deny that he knew Jesus and would have failed the test.  Can sacrificial prayer really help us to stand firm where we may have been weak in the past?  Most American Christians are weak in regards to prayer.  Our prayers are short and only offered in convenience.  Then we wonder why we fail so often in our struggle with sin and addictions.

Lord teach us to pray.