Sleeping in the Face of Tempation

Introduction

Mark 14:32–42 CSB

Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.” He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 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.” Then he came and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake one hour? Stay awake and pray so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Once again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing. And again he came and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to him. Then he came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. See, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”

Pray

In The Garden

We sing, "In The Garden".

I go to the Garden alone and Walk with God and Talk with God

I Love this song myself. It is calming and I love praying with God in a quite, meditative place outside. Where you can really be with God. There is something great about it. And Many of you by your faces know what I am speaking of here. If you do not I challenge you to find a place amongst God's creation and spend it in honest prayer

This is not the kind of prayer you do while fishing or riding. Not that those aren't great. But you and God in honest prayer. Silent, nothing going on but prayer for the purpose of Prayer; you, God. It is a special time.

This is Jesus Garden experience.

He too Goes to the Garden and separates himself from the rest so that he can pray. And he gives the disciple a task. Keep watch And to pray. That they may not fall into temptation.

Jesus is praying the same thing. He doesn't want to fall into temptation. Though he is tempted.

"Abba, Father all things are possible to thee: remove this cup". O the cries of the man Jesus who does not want to suffer. Who does not want to die. He is a man that likes life and spends a great deal of his time healing and preaching and teaching and living. And now he is to suffer and die. Knowing He will rise on the third day. He has already said so But this does not make it any easier.

Saying God has a plan doesn't make it any easier. When you are going through the suffering it is easy to say God doesn't exist, or that he doesn't love, or that he is evil or that he has turned His head. Because no one, not even Jesus wants to suffer.

You would be crazy if you did

But God has a reason for allowing Suffering

In this case the reasoning is easy to see. This man is going to be the blood sacrifice for the World that through his suffering, death and resurrection the world would be offered the choice to accept and believe and be free from the punishment of their own sins.

Other times we don't see the reason or the reason is not known for a long time after history has passed enough for us to see the picture. Things like the Holocaust where so many have fallen and many choose not to believe in God or choose not to worship because of instances like this. Or the millions in slavery today. Or the little child's life destroyed by a pedophile

Theologically and spiritually and rationally these things are tough to deal with. But throughout the Bible we are reassured that God is there in the midst of our suffering.

But Jesus still doesn't want to and he is Fully God as he is fully man

He prays that the Father would pass this cup. Because he is tempted. Tempted to run. Tempted to call down heavens. Tempted to Start the revolution they all seem to want. He is tempted

But he prays not mine but thine will be done. I will do it even if I have to suffer.

Asleep in the Garden

When he gets up the disciples are asleep. Not doing what they are suppose to be doing they are suppose to be watching over and Praying. Praying that they don't fall into temptation.

What are they tempted with?

Sleeping isn't the temptation.

Tempted with the desire to start a revolution. This is the temptation that gets and ear cut off.

They will be tempted to run away and hide. They will be tempted to Leave. They will be tempted to not believe any more.

If Jesus Dies can he really Be the Messiah.

The temptation to leave here and go back to their old lives. Which is the temptation all Christians must accept when they are new to the faith. Accept Christ and then does it change anything?

But instead of Praying they were asleep. It was late. They had had a bit of wine. They had eaten a full meal. Is it really surprising they were falling asleep, No. But they needed to be awake and pray.

Pray because they were about to face a great hardship and they didn't see it. Pray because Jesus was tempted and he needed people watching over Him. He needed people. They can't help Jesus other than to watch and pray.

But more importantly they can help themselves.

This cross was more costly for Jesus and his Father than we can imagine.

Jesus was praying with sweet of Blood running down. That’s intense.

We as disciples must learn to watch and pray so that we too may resist temptation. We are faced with it all the time but we Fall asleep. We don't take seriously the temptations that lay before us. And we sleep Instead of fighting with prayer. And meditation and watching over each other.

Where were the disciples Sleeping as a group Why weren't they taking turns sleeping and praying. Or watching over each other. No they fell asleep as a group. Which is no good when needing to be a praying

Next Steps

Some of you in here are wonderful about praying. And reading Bibles And others are good of watching over. And some of you are good at sleeping Join together and as a group

Watch and pray

That you may not fall into temptation

Or are you already asleep

Pray