Sermon # 7 - Watch And Pray Series

We read in Mark 14:37, He went back and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour? (GW)

As Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, he instructed his disciples to tarry in prayer right where they were, when He went on further to pour out His soul in prayer to the Father, for Jesus always led by example. As he came back, He found the disciples were asleep, and that is when He asked the question as found in the above mentioned verse, ‘Simon, are you sleeping?’ Jesus asked Simon Peter, if he could not stay awake, and continue in prayer for just one hour.

There are many believers who in the initial years when they came to know the Lord, were extremely zealous to pray and read the word, but are now asleep in their spiritual lives.

Background to this verse as found in Mark chapter 14

The Passover Festival and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread

We read in Mark 14:1, “It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for some underhanded way to arrest Jesus and to kill him.” (GW)

The Jews generally celebrated seven different festivals, all of which were foreshadows pointing to the coming of Jesus the Messiah. It was that time of the year when the Jews were about to celebrate the Passover Festival and the Festival of the Unleavened Bread. The entire narrative in Mark 14 explains in detail the important events that were prior to the crucifixion of Jesus.

The Passover Festival signifies the truth that Jesus was slain for our sins, and on our behalf. The history of the Passover takes us to Egypt, where the Israelites smeared the blood of a sinless lamb on the doorposts and lintels, whereby the angel of death passed over their homes, so that the occupants of these homes escaped death. Jesus is unique and incomparable in that His death as the sinless Lamb of God was predicted thousands of years ago, when the people of Israel sacrificed a spotless lamb, whose blood alone could save them from death. Therefore to those who believe and appropriate the death of Jesus on the cross for their sins, they will not face the second death. There are lots of ways people are suggesting for one to get rid of their sins, but only those who repent, and believe in the Lord Jesus have the confidence that there is no punishment for their sins, for Jesus has taken on Himself the iniquity of us all.

The Festival of the Unleavened Bread, connotes that one must be separated from the sinful life of this world. Though both these festivals were indicating the supreme sacrifice that Jesus was to make, the religious leaders of that day were unable to perceive who Jesus really was. The Unleavened Bread was made without yeast, and it had to have stripes and holes on it, describing the bruises, and the broken body of sinless Lord Jesus.

God has chosen and called us to be those who will live without any form of leaven or sin in our lives. The word church finds its root in the Greek work ‘ekklesia’ which means a people called or set apart for God, and therefore we as a church of God are not of this world, but are exclusively chosen to stand out for God. We are called by God to lead exemplary lives that glorify Him in every way.

Though the Chief Priest and Scribes were preparing to celebrate these two festivals which were in commemoration of Jesus, they failed to recognize who He was, and were plotting to have Him killed. They not only schemed to have Jesus arrested, but passed judgement on Him as one who was worthy of death. The ones who crucified Jesus were the Jewish religious leaders who did not believe in Jesus.

Daniel is another great example of one who led a life of integrity that his associates tried to plot and scheme evil against him. Whenever we walk circumspectly, we should not be surprised if there are those who device wicked ways to cause our downfall. The Lord exhorts us like Daniel to persevere in prayer, and He has promised to deliver us from all our trials. Many have grown weary, and have stopped praying or are unable to pray, but we need to seek the Lord to help us revive our prayer life. Even today the ones who are crucifying Jesus again and again through their sinful life, are not unbelievers but those who claim to be believers.

Paul combining these two festivals beautifully explains it in, 1 Corinthians 5:7, “You must remove the old yeast of sin so that you will be entirely pure. Then you will be like a new batch of dough without any yeast, as indeed I know you actually are. For our Passover Festival is ready, now that Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (GNB)