June 22, 2016
WE ARE UNRELIABLE, BUT HE IS UNDENIABLE
Mark 14:26–52
Riley Garrett
Central Truth
Jesus did not come to earth as some supernatural being who was free from temptation, pain, and suffering. He felt the weakness of the human spirit. Not only did He overcome this weakness, but He gives us an example of how we can do the same!
Key Verse | Mark 14:38
"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Mark 14:38)
Mark 14:26–52
Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial
26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” 1 14:34 Or keep awake; also verses 37, 38 35 And going a little farther, he 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. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” 45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him and seized him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant 2 14:47 Or bondservant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” 50 And they all left him and fled.
A Young Man Flees
51 And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.
Dive Deeper | Mark 14:26–52
This passage provides a beautiful picture of the humanity of Jesus. Although He came to earth as the perfect and holy Son of God, Jesus experienced the emotions, temptations, and weaknesses of the human spirit. He did not go to the cross as a supernatural being who could not feel pain, suffering, and rejection. As we read Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, we see that He very much felt the weight of what was to come. He agonizes over the coming events and cries out to God with very raw, human emotion.
When the disciples fell asleep in the garden, Jesus said to them, "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak"(verse 38). In His own agony, He indeed knew the weakness of the human spirit and the necessity of reliance upon God for strength. His prayer in the garden gives us such a beautiful picture of what it looks like to depend on God in the midst of human weakness and suffering. Jesus tells the Father of His sorrow and struggles, but then pleads that the Father’s will would be done rather than His own. Wow! This is such a contrast to the disciples’ self-confidence in verses 28 to 31.
I am so convicted by Jesus' humble submission. Like the disciples, I am prone to self-reliance. My prayers often ask God for my will to be done instead of His. Can you imagine if Jesus had done the same? If I do not "watch and pray," I will end up forgoing the Father’s will for my life every time. For me personally, this looks like being watchful for situations or emotions that may cause me to seek self-gratification. When I am watchful for the sin struggles in my life, it alerts me to when I need to run to God in prayer and seek His will. This is not easy, but God gives us Jesus as an example of what selfless submission to His will looks like. Let's pray to be more like Jesus daily!
Discussion Questions
1.What would it look like for you to be watchful? For what temptations do you need to be on alert?
2. How do these temptations make it difficult for God’s will to be done in your life? What’s holding you back from seeking His will first?
3. Do you pray for your own wishes and intentions, or do you pray for God’s will to be done? What can you do today to make your prayers to the Father more like Jesus’?
4. In his prayer, Jesus confesses His temptations to God and then pleads that His will would be done in spite of His own grief. Spend some time today telling God about your temptations and seeking His will to be done through you in spite of them.