Scripture:
Mark 14:32-42 NKJV
[32] Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” [33] And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. [34] Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” [35] He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. [36] And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” [37] Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? [38] Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” [39] Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. [40] And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. [41] Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. [42] Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
Observation:
As I was reading this over this morning. I realized that I don’t know that I have ever written about this particular portion of scripture, and I started wondering to myself why. Its such a pivotal moment in history and there is a lot revealed here. I’m sure if we have been in church for any length of time we have if nothing else had the opportunity to hear about the night our savior was handed over to the men who nailed HIM to a cross. The events we are talking about however, is everything that happened leading up to that moment. I honestly couldn’t imagine the weight of that day. It’s not like HE didn’t know what was about to take place, in fact, at this point HE had told HIS disciples several times. “I’m going to be handed over, and they are going to kill me.” It may not have been in those exact words but ultimately that’s what was said. At one point Peter even rebuked Jesus for saying such a thing and quickly got put in his place. However against everything the disciples wanted…. the night had arrived. Jesus had been sold for 30 pieces of silver, and his betrayer was on the way. It was long past tine to pray. HE took HIS men to a familiar place to do so. The garden of pressing. Is what it translates to, and honestly what an appropriate name. I couldn’t imagine the pressure. Knowing that this was it. Knowing that everything would change after that night. The anguish that HE felt was clearly overwhelming. As HE took HIS men into the garden asking a few to stay at the gate and HIS inner most circle to go a little farther with HIM to watch and pray. Walking a few more steps HE fell to HIS face. Of course at this point all that I am doing is going over what has already been said. But what I want us to see is that, obedience is not always easy. We know that Christ HIMSELF is led by the Holy Spirit, and this moment in time would require was contact with the Father, but something deeper was taken place as well. Even on the night that HE would be handed over to those who had no concern for HIS life. HE was still teaching HIS men. HIS first bit of instruction was given in verse 34. It was simple, “Stay here and watch.” HIS emotions were high and the pressure to much to bear HE needed not only HIS Father but the men HE had been training up for this very moment. Going a little farther and praying, as HE came back HE found HIS men sleeping. “Simon are you sleeping? Could you not watch fir one hour? Watch and pray, lest you fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” OK now in this is noticed something. First I have to ask a question. Who did HE address by name? Simon? But did HE not change his name to Peter? Jesus knew that old man was still in there and had just told Simon a short tine before this very moment. HE was calling that out. As HE walked away to pray a second time. HIS instructions changed slightly. “Watch and pray, lest you fall into temptation. The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Jesus knew where the problem is. It’s not that they didn’t want to. In fact I picture that moment like a real wakeup call. “Wait didn’t HE just call me Simon? HE hasn’t called me that in years. Ever since HE changed my name to Peter, that’s who I have been to HIM. Listen fellas we have to stay awake something big is going on here.” Of course that’s not in the scripture, and I’m not trying to add anything to it I just want you to get a picture of that night as Jesus walked away to pray again. HIS distress overwhelming HIM. HIS return finding the same results. The men HE left to watch over HIM asleep. HIS betrayer at hand. We know now the story continues. Judas betrayed the king with a kiss. Peter so overcome with the fact that he couldn’t even stay awake for an hour that he grabbed a sword and cut the ear on one of the arresting me off. He had to feel like a failure. Especially after Jesus healed that man and told peter that’s not how its done. The phrase that keeps ringing in my ear this morning is… the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Its something that Jesus knew all to well. The anguish HE had just went through batting HIS flesh. Brought HIM to a point of sweating blood. HIS flesh did not want what was about to happen. HE had to go to the Father for the strength. HE had to connect to the source of life. HE had to have HIS cup full to endure everything that was about to happen.
Application:
Before we get to far into this a scripture has been coming to mind.the very same Spirit that rose Christ from the dead lives inside of us. Its that Spirit that gave HIM the strength to press on and do what the Father needed HIM to. That willing Spirit. Although to be honest. I sit here on a pile of failures. Times that I have tried and failed tried and failed. I’m sure its no different for anyone reading this. There is something in our lives that we work on, but we find ourselves back at the spot of overwhelming failure again and again. I’m just saying this because I know I cant be the only one. In fact the apostle John tells us that if we say we are without sin we lie and the truth is not in us. The thing is… I don’t want to sin, and I’m sure if you have truly given your life to Christ you don’t want to either. It’s the transformation that takes place when we ask Jesus to be our LORD. The shot caller in our lives. Something happens inside of us that changes the way we want to live. Our spirit wants to please GOD. However, there is this whole other aspect of it…. our flesh…. its weak…. it wants to give up. The flesh wants what feels good. Let’s go back to the scripture for a second. Its the same struggle that Jesus Christ just faced in the garden of pressing or pressure. HE had to overcome HIS flesh. How did HE do that. Well let’s look HE went to the Father and talked to HIM. HE told HIM that HE needed help. HE asked if there was another way. But found that submission to the Fathers will was it. Now I’m not going to sit here and tell you that it works every time for me that way. Sometimes my spirit is stronger than my flesh and sometimes its not. But I want to try. I don’t want to just give in to my flesh. That’s what is called living in sin. Its when you use the grace of GOD to live however you want. The bible says anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves of that… and sometimes we do that right after we have fallen asleep, and into temptation. The enemy is looking for a foothold. He wants you to believe that you can just live in a state of sin or that once you have made a mistake that it’s over. But its just not the case either way. The bible in the book of proverbs tells us that a righteous man falls but he gets back us. I am writing this morning to empower you. GOD has sealed your salvation with HIS Holy Spirit. That Spirit that is willing…. even when the flesh is weak. I love you way that Romans chapter 7 puts it when Paul is talking about the struggle inside of every believer. Wanting to do right. That’s the new man. The man who is full of the Holy Spirit. A man who is willing. GOD can do so much with one man that is willing. Sanctification takes time. Don’t give in to the failures don’t through your hands up. Pick yourself up dust it off and try again. No one has reached perfection. I don’t care how many fake smiles they give you at church. Are you willing? GOD can use that. HE will sanctify you with a willing Spirit. Jesus is coming back and if you know HIM its you HE is coming back for. A church that is clothed in HIS righteousness. Because your own is just nasty rags. So stop faking and surrender to HIS will. Don’t give up… just give in to who HE says you are. Redeemed, set free, bought by the blood of the lamb, saved by HIS grace for GOD works. Not by them. All you have to do is try.
Prayer:
Father, you are so good. You know I could go on forever with this topic, and honestly I would love to, but work is calling me today. As we go through this day help us to be willing…. willing to pick ourselves up willing to try…. willing to nor give up. Help us to make today better than yesterday. Keep us looking to you as the author and finisher of our faith. We want Sanctification. We do not want to be the same old people we were when you found us. Change us mold us and shape us to be more like your son every day. We know that there are times when we fall weak to our flesh, and you see that. Forgive us for those times and help us to see the way out of that temptation the next time we face it. Help us to stay connected to you. We can not do this without the helper that you sent. So fill us with your Holy Spirit. The willing Spirit. Our helper our counselor. We need that more than anything. Empower us to live in such a way that everyone can see that we have been in the presence of YOU…. the almighty creator. Its in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.