The Flesh is Weak

INTRO

Can you remember being lost as a child? Maybe you were in a supermarket and department store with your mom or dad, and suddenly they weren’t there. One minute you were playing in the clothes racks or checking out the newest video games and your parents were close by and then no one. You start looking around, but when you’re little you can see over the top of anything. You run up and down some aisles and you start to panic. Where can they be?

Of course they didn’t abandon you, but you wandered off and they thought you were still following. Being alone like that is a terrible feeling. Jesus knows just how you felt.

In today’s message from Mark 14, Jesus knew that the time for his arrest had come. God was still in complete control of the unfolding redemption plan. But Jesus knew this was going to be the hardest night of his life. He wanted his closest friends around him for support. He brought all of his pain and fear to his heavenly Father in prayer. But he was left alone. Abandoned while praying, betrayed, and then abandoned completely.

Series

We are continuing our series The Crown & The Cross. Mark has shown us Jesus as a man with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message. Jesus’ life on earth helped us all better understand God’s heart and what His kingdom is like.

In the first half of Mark the emphasis was on seeing Jesus revealed as Messiah - the King who deserved the crown. The second half’s focus is on Jesus in Jerusalem fulfilling His life’s mission to suffer and die on the cross - and to rise from the dead.

Last week Jesus shared his last supper with the disciples. They all ate the bread and they all drank from the same cup. Jesus gave them the symbols of communion to bind them in unity. Today they will all face temptation and they will all promise to stay by his side, but they all abandon him. Every last one.

Our parallel passages are in Matthew 26, Luke 22, and John 18. If you missed anything you can watch or listen on our website or YouTube page.

READ Mark 14:26-31

You Will Deny Me

Just as they all drank from one cup Jesus said “You will all fall away.” And the disciples all pledged to follow Jesus even to death. But we will see that they all scattered and they all deserted Jesus.

Jesus quoted Zechariah 13:7 as yet another ancient prophecy is fulfilled. The shepherd will be attacked and the sheep will scatter.

The Greek word for call away means to stumble. It is not intentional but accidental because of a lack of awareness. This is typical of our own sins. We don’t often set out to deliberately disobey God. We trip up or stumble and fall.

But Jesus doesn’t just hit them with this bad news. He also offers hope. v 28 After I am raised up I will go before you to Galilee. Back in Zechariah, God offered a similar hope - they will call upon my name and I will answer them and I will say They are my people. I’m so thankful God doesn’t turn his back on me when I sin and fail him. He forgives and renews us when we call on him. Jesus told his disciples, I will see you again in Galilee - the place where He first called them to follow. He is going back to the beginning.

Peter, as usual, can’t keep silent. He blurts out, “Even if they all fall away, I will not!” Imagine telling God, you’re wrong? Peter had no idea just how weak he was both spiritually and physically.

Jesus gently corrects Peter, and tells him that tonight before the morning rooster has crowed twice, you will have denied me three times. Jesus is not mad, but states the facts will very specific detail. You will deny me not once, but three times this very night before morning - before the rooster crows two time.

Often the spokesman for the group, Peter emphatically says (He may be shouting now) “Even if I have to die with you I will not deny you.” And the rest of the disciples all said the same. None of them knew just how weak they really were.

Have you made those bold statements? - No way. I would never do that. Only to be very wrong later. It’s humbling to learn that you are weak.

Jesus warned them that temptation was coming. They had not denied him. In fact they all promised that they would not. How would they handle this trial? Jesus showed them the importance of praying, but they missed the lesson.

READ Mark 14:32-42

Jesus Prays, Disciples Sleep

They went to a place called Gethsemane. That name means olive press. They were on the side of the mount of olives, so while we call this a garden, it may have been more of an olive grove. Just as olives were pressed, Jesus would be pressed with the great weight of the coming cross.

Jesus told the disciples to sit there while he prayed. John 18 tells us that this was a place that Jesus and the disciples often visited - maybe as a peaceful retreat from the crowds of Jerusalem.

Jesus took the inner three, Peter, James, and John. These are his closest friends. The ones who saw him in his glory on the mount of transfiguration. They are the ones he revealed more about the end times back in chapter 13. When he was facing his most difficult challenge, Jesus wanted these three men to be with him.

Jesus told them “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.”

Jesus’ deeply moving words here, remind us of Psalm 42, where the writer says “I pour out my soul. My soul is downcast and in turmoil with me. Hope in God for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

We see Jesus as one hundred percent human in his frailty in this moment. He is facing the most severe test of his faith. Even greater than Satan’s temptations in the wilderness. He is being pressed hard by the realization that he will bear our sins on the cross. He is also still one hundred percent God, because he knows what is coming and he knows there is no other way for salvation to come to earth.

Jesus fell face down on the earth in the most humble position before God his father and he cries out Abba which means daddy. It’s a term of endearment that no one else in scripture uses when talking to God.

He prayed if it were possible that the hour would pass from him. Father, daddy, please take this cup from me. You can do absolutely anything. Yet, I want to do your will not mine.

Jesus shows us the real purpose for prayer. It’s not to get what I want from God or to make him change his mind. Prayer is mean to align my desires and my will to God’s will and what he desires. My prayer should always be “change my heart O God.”

Jesus did not want to fall into temptation. He did not want to run from the Father’s redemption plan. So he stays alert and he prays.

Jesus was preparing for the final action of being the Servant of God. He would soon be “pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities” (Isa 53:4–5). It is one thing, fearful as it will be, to answer for my own sins before a holy and almighty God. But Jesus was about to hang on the cross, answering to God for every sin and crime and act of malice and injury and cowardice and evil in the world. This was a crushing weight that had him sweating drops of blood.

In the midst of the anguish, in verse 37 Jesus turned back to find the disciples fast asleep and said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch even one hour?” Notice Jesus does not use his sanctified name “Peter” which means rock. He is not strong, he is weak.

Watch and pray so you don’t fall into temptation. Just was Jesus needed to pray and be alert to fight temptation, Peter and the disciples needed that same prayer and watchfulness to face the temptations ahead. Jesus said, the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” This is not an excuse to give in to temptation. “Oh I couldn’t help it, my flesh is weak!” It’s a warning. The only way to fight temptation is to be strong in the spirit through prayer and watching.

v. 39 Jesus prayed again, crying out the same to God his Father. And he came found them sleeping again. Their eyes were heavy. It had been a long day and it was well after midnight. Peter must be learning a little humility, because in verse 40 it says he remained silent - he didn’t know what to say. No excuses, just sorrow. Peter and the others who had just vowed to die with Jesus couldn’t even stay awake. How sad.

Watch and pray” is an admonition that is often repeated in Scripture (Neh. 4:9; Mark 13:33; Eph. 6:18; Col. 4:2). It means, “Be alert as you pray! Keep your spiritual eyes open, for the enemy is near!”

jesus went off to pray again and a third time came and said “Are you still sleeping?” That’s enough. The hour has come I am betrayed.

They had failed their first temptation. Jesus asked them to watch and pray with him, but they gave in to physical exhaustion and left him alone.

Are you ready? We have an immediately coming.

READ Mark 14:32-42

Jesus Betrayed & Arrested

Judas came one of the twelve emphasizing that he was a close friend and disciple.

A crowd came with swords and clubs. They had no clue as to how Jesus and his disciples would react. they came ready for a battle. Judas of all people, should have understood that Jesus was not an earthly king with an army.

Whether the chief priests, scribes and elders were there or this was just a group sent from them, Mark makes it clear that the Sanhedrin were the ones behind this.

Judas, is called the betrayer. Because it is late at night with no street lights, Judas told them he would identify Jesus with a kiss so they didn't arrest the wrong man. Again, they expect a fight, so he told them to quickly grab him and take him away under guard. John 18 tells us that a Roman band of soldiers were there too. That could have been anywhere from 200 to 1000 soldiers!

Judas went up to Jesus saying “Rabbi” and kissed him. This was reserved as an intimate show of love, trust and respect for a teacher. Judas made it the ugliest kiss ever - full of treachery, hatred and evil.

One of the men drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest cutting off his ear. John 18 tells us that it was Peter who took action with his sword. And Luke tells us that Jesus said “No more of this” and then healed the man’s ear instantly - most likely preventing Peter’s arrest.

v. 49, Jesus reminds these men that he stood before them day after day, teaching in the temple, and they never tried to arrest him. But Jesus knew that this would happen just as God prescribed it. Scripture would be fulfilled.

V. 50 And they all left him and fled. Everyone one of them abandoned Jesus and ran away. Just as Jesus told them. Their spirit’s were willing to follow him, but in their flesh they were weak and afraid. They had not prayed and prepared to face this temptation. They all failed. Everyone one of them.

Only Mark’s gospel gives us this unusual addition in verses 51-52

A young man had follow them wearing a linen robe and when the soldiers tried to seize him, he also ran leaving his robe behind. He ran away naked.

Because this detail is here only in Mark, it has been assumed that this was Mark himself. Perhaps he wanted to humbly tell his readers, that even he was unable to stand with Jesus. He ran just like the rest. He is also calling the reader to question our own readiness to face temptation and endure.

There is an interesting parallel to the original garden of eden. You may recall that when Adam and Eve had given in to the serpent’s temptation, they realized they were naked. Throughout the Bible, being naked is connected with shame. Jesus faced his greatest temptation and was fully prepared to obey the Father even when all of his closest followers abandoned him.

Because Jesus was betrayed and abandoned by the people he loved, He knows exactly how you feel today.

Take Aways

Jesus knew that on the cross, God’s full wrath would be poured out on him. He would carry the weight of the whole world’s sin on his shoulders. Jesus did this because of his amazing love for you and I.

But unless we recognize ourselves as sinners, facing the justified wrath of God, we can never be saved.

Tim Keller said, “Your conception of God’s love - and of your value in his sight - will only be as big as your understanding of his wrath.”

This is the love you have been looking for your whole life. This love that cost Jesus his life is the only love that is deep enough to erase a mountain of God’s rightful wrath. No family love, no love of a friend, no love of a parent or even the love of a spouse can possible satisfy you like God’s love. Every other kind of love will let you down at some time, but God’s love never will.

Invitation - Have you repented of your sin and accepted the amazing grace of Jesus’ love and death on the cross for your forgiveness?

When you realize that you are made righteous (or forgiven and right before God) by Jesus’ grace and not your own achievements and that you are loved in Jesus, it changes the way you view power, money, and status. Even the way you long for love from other people. None of these things control you anymore. You don’t have to prove anything when you are totally loved and accept by God’s perfect love which casts out fear.

Do you face temptation and fail again and again?

Our recent Sunday School class helped us identifying our idols. Is this a thing that I am willing to sin to get. Will I act sinfully if I think I’m going to lose this. Do I turn to this as an escape or comfort instead of going to God? These idols are your greatest temptations.

Are you trying to fight only with your physical strength and determination? Jesus gave us the example of admitting our own weakness, seeking God’s will, praying for supernatural strength and staying alert and watchful for temptation. Don’t follow asleep and then continue to be surprised when you give in to temptation.

When we recognize our own need for mercy and God’s grace and goodness to us, even in our struggles, we can better show that mercy and grace to others in their own struggles.

Because we have a Savior who can sympathize with our weaknesses. Because he was tempted in every human way, just as we are. His spirit was willing, while his flesh was weak. But he did not sin. He continued to obey his heavenly Father. We can confidently come to him in prayer and receive his endless mercy and grace when we are in our time of need.

Benediction

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory majesty dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen