Station one: Praying in Gethsemane

Bible reading

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ he said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’

Mark 14:32-36 (NIV)

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Pause

Have you ever experienced walking alongside a friend going through a tough time? Perhaps they have had a fall out with another friend, a special person has died, or they are having to make a really difficult decision? Maybe you have been that person who does not know where to turn and feels so upset you really don’t know what to do. That is how Jesus was feeling. He knew something terrible was going to happen, he knew that it was important that he did what God, his Father, asked him to do because it was part of a bigger plan, but it still was not easy. So Jesus went with his friends somewhere quiet and prayed.

​When things are hard having people who care about us just being with us, even if they don’t have answers, is helpful. Putting your feelings into words and addressing them to God might also help. This is what Christians do when they pray. They ask God to listen and be alongside them. Knowing that he is there helps them to feel less alone.

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Ponder

• When did you last cry? What was it that made you cry?
• Who do you talk to when you feel sad?
• How might you show someone else that you care when they are feeling very sad?
• Have you ever prayed when you felt sad?
• What might you want to tell God about today that is making you feel sad?