The New Way

 

This is referring to the High Priestly Prayer that we looked at on Days 294-299.   We've talked before that the writers sometimes left some details out, maybe because they forgot, or maybe because of prioritizing different thoughts, or maybe because of the trauma that was experienced during this time.  But for whatever reason, John did not record the discussion with Peter and the disciples being told to find swords for fighting.

 

The other possibility is, that the High Priestly Prayer was in fact the last thing that happened before they left the room.  I have sequenced these events to the best of my ability and based on other scholar's work – but maybe this did occur immediately after the prayer was finished.   I wasn't there, so I can't say for sure!

 

We are told that to enter this garden, Jesus had to cross over the Kidron Valley or the Kidron brook.  Other translations call it the Kidron Ravine because the valley was very steep between the city gates and the Mount of Olives.  Jesus and His disciples had to hike down one side and up again on the other side.  (the KJV translation doesn't mention the Kidron Valley but mentions the Cedron brook which I assume is at the bottom of the ravine).

 

Let's take a detour and think about this valley that Jesus crossed to enter His place of prayer. 

 

I, too, must cross a ravine to enter my place of prayer.  Even though it's just a mental ravine -- there are steps I must take to truly enter God's presence.  No, I don't need a priest, or candles, or incense -- but I need to mentally shut out the world.  I've found that there are things that keep me from God's Presence.  There are ravines that block my times of prayer -- and for me to really connect with God, I must conquer them.

 

One ravine that I must cross is busy-ness:    Psalm 46:10 NASB says, "Cease striving and know that I am God."  The KJV translation says, “Be still and know that I am God."  I cannot get to a true state of prayer while my mind is thinking a thousand other thoughts.  I must concentrate on God and God alone.  I must let my mind become still before His throne.  Can you imagine standing in front of God's actual throne and your mind fretting about what you are going to wear or what you are doing tomorrow?  It just doesn't fit does it?  Yet, so many times we try to pray while our minds are flitting about dealing with little mundane things.  If you really want to do some serious praying -- you must cross over the ravine of mental busy-ness and be still before God.

 

Another ravine that I must cross is sin:  Psalm 66:18 NASB says, "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear."  I am amazed at the people who believe that they can live totally SELF-focused lives, disobeying God's direct commands -- and still expect God to provide them with answers to prayer.  He might - just because He's gracious and loving and cares for you -- but He doesn't promise to answer your prayer if you are not in a right relationship with Him.  Don't get me wrong -- He "hears" everything.  He's God.  But He is not compelled to grant you your wishes when you are not being His obedient child.

 

The final ravine I must cross is like the first one - but it is a deliberate shutting out of the world's clamor to enter His throne room.  Matthew 6:6 NASB says, "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."  I have become very deliberate in "shutting the door" so that nothing distracts my prayer time.  If I'm praying during the day, I always tell David that I'm going to my prayer room so that he won't worry and come checking on me.  I try to pray early enough in the morning so that the telephone won't ring.  I pray in a special room with the door shut so that I don't see the laundry and dishes and other housework waiting for me. 

 

Now, we've talked before about praying all day long and in every circumstance and as you are driving, shopping, teaching, training, cooking, -- prayer is always available.   Jesus prayed that way, too.  In every situation, He could easily lift His eyes to Heaven and ask for God to bless a situation.  But we also see that is was Jesus' habit to slip away to pray - either to the wilderness or the mountains or to this Mount of Olives.  Luke 5:16 NASB says, "But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray."  (Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12-13).   We're also told in these verses that He often prayed all night. 

 

If Jesus felt this need to spend time alone with God – focused and still, separated from the world -- how much more do we need those times.

 

Do you have a special time to pray?