Not About a Bunny: Explaining Easter to Your KidsSample

Sleeping—I Mean, Praying

Do you have a favorite spot to pray? Maybe you like to sit in your favorite chair with a cup of coffee, or perhaps you enjoy praying outside in a local park. Jesus and his disciples often went to a garden called Gethsemane to pray.

"Gethsemane”literally means “olive press,” and it is situated on a slope of the Mount of Olives. The most famous mention of this garden came the night before Jesus was crucified.

Following the Passover meal, the disciples came with Jesus to the garden to pray. Jesus took Peter, James and John to a location that was separate from the others. He made a simple request of them—watch and pray.

Why pray? Jesus said to pray that they wouldn’t fall into temptation. Much like many of us would have done, they fell asleep. And it didn’t happen once. Twice, Jesus had to wake them and ask them to pray.

While the disciples were praying (err, sleeping), Jesus went further into the garden.The Bible then describes two times Jesus asked his Father to “take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).He spent time with the Father, even in his anguish.

As parents, it’s sometimes hard to find dedicated times of quiet to pray. During this Passion Week, let’s be extra vigilant in this regard. Let’s be intentional about setting aside time to pray and develop that fellowship with our Father.

Scripture: Luke 22:40-53