KEEP WATCHING AND REMAIN FAITHFUL
Mark 14:27-42
Some people are natural early risers. They are up before the sun and ready to start their day. Somehow they do this without the assistance of an alarm clock. Not all of us are so fortunate! Because of my job, I have no choice but to be an early riser. As a result I set 6 alarms on my phone each night.
The purpose of an alarm is for us to get up and get busy. As we look at the condition of the world around is, it is apparent that it is time for God’s people to get up and get busy. Tragically there are many Christians who are sound asleep. While they are sleeping, there is an enemy that is viciously attacking the church.
The passage that we will consider today shows us that the Lord’s most faithful Disciples went to sleep at a time when it was exceedingly important for them to be awake and alert. Jesus had faced troubles and persecution many times in the past. Throughout His life and ministry, He had dealt with opposition from the Pharisees and the Sadducees and other adversaries. But this night would be the toughest of His life.
Earlier that evening, Jesus and His disciples had celebrated the Passover. After this, they left the upper room and set out for Jerusalem. As they traveled through the Kidron Valley towards the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus taught them about Heaven, the Peace of God, surrendering to the Lord, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. As they approached Gethsemane, Jesus took "Peter and James and John" with Him and the scripture says that He "began to be very distressed and troubled"
- In verse 38 Jesus commanded these men to “keep watching and praying”. I believe that He would have us to do the same today. I would like for us to journey to Gethsemane and consider that very thought “Keep Watching And Remain Faithful”
Jesus informed His men that a time of intense trouble was approaching and as a result they would be scattered and abandon Him. (v27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’28 But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”)
We cannot fathom all of the amazing things that the Lord’s Disciples had experienced in the previous three years. They had seen the miracles, they had heard the messages and they were a vital part of the ministry. Peter, James and John had been present for some events that the others were not allowed to witness. They were allowed into the room when Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead. These were the men who had been privileged to be with Jesus on the mountain at His Transfiguration. Now they have been chosen to come with Him as He prays in Gethsemane. Once there, Jesus tells them that they will soon face trouble like they had never seen before. In fact, the events that were on the horizon would be so intense that they would “fall away” and “be scattered”.
Upon hearing this warning, the Disciples immediately professed their undying love and devotion to their Master. Peter declares that even if everyone else is “falls away” he would not. Jesus goes on to reveal to Peter that he would "deny Him three times before a roster crows twice”. Peter refused to believe the words of Jesus and went on to profess that he would die before he denied Jesus. It was not just Peter; upon hearing this “they were all saying the same thing also”. I believe each of those men genuinely meant what they said when they said it; however when the enemies of Christ arrived to seize Him, “they all left Him and fled”.
When Jesus and the Disciples arrive in Gethsemane He gives them some simple but important instructions. (v32 Then they came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.”33 And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. 34 And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.”)
Notice that Jesus says "remain here and keep watch”. On the surface this may sound like an easy assignment, but before we condemn Peter, James and John it is important to remember where they were and what has already happened on this very night. Not only has Jesus reiterated the fact that He is about to suffer and die, He went on to inform them that they would “fall away” and be “scattered”. This is after they have learned that one of them would soon “betray Him”. And then Peter has just been told that he would deny Jesus three times before the sun comes up. Obviously all of these things were weighing heavy on their minds. These men were exhausted mentally, physically and emotionally. As a result, instead of keeping watch, they went to sleep. While they are sleeping, Jesus begins to endure more anguish and agony than our minds are able to comprehend. His soul was “deeply grieved to the point of death”.
After instructing the Disciples to “remain here and keep watch”, He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. Jesus knew that He would soon drink the bitter cup of God’s wrath. As He prayed “He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” (v36) In Luke’s account of this event we are told that “being in agony He was praying very fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.” (Luke 22:44)
While Jesus is facing such anguish and agony, the Disciples are sound asleep. (v37 And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit 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 resting?)
During this time of great sorrow, He gave His followers a simple task to obey. He told them to “remain here and keep watch.” However, instead of watching the Disciples of the Lord were napping. Just as Jesus had some specific instructions for those men that night, He has left some specific instructions for us as well. Before ascending to Heaven, Jesus revealed that one day He would return for His Bride. He also made it clear that until that day comes, there is work for us to do.
- As we live and work for Him, it is imperative that we Keep Watching And Remain Faithful. I want to look at four reasons that we must “keep watching”. First of all:
WE MUST KEEP WATCHING BECAUSE TROUBLE IS COMING
We are living in the midst of some very dark days. Christ and His followers are under attack from the Enemy like never before. At a time when the church should be actively watching, working and praying, in many ways she is sleeping.
- Throughout God’s Word, we are warned that there will be times of trouble in this life.
Jesus said in John 16:33 “…In the world you have tribulation”
James said “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials”
Peter said - Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. (1 Peter 4:12)
He went on to say in - 1 Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Paul warned Timothy that “in the last days difficult times will come.” (I Timothy 3:1) Later in that same chapter he said “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (I Timothy 3:12-13)
These are just a few of many verses that reveal that trouble is a present reality for the Christian. Furthermore, we are told that these troubles will intensify as the end draws near. It is imperative that we hear and heed the warnings that Jesus has given to us in His Word. It is apparent that these warnings are true for there is much trouble in the world today. We live in a day where things are bad and getting worse. Our society is growing increasingly secular. There are constant attacks on the church. All over the world Christians are facing much opposition and extreme persecution. While our Savior and many of our brothers and sisters are under extreme attack, the overwhelming majority of the church is sleeping.
Adrian Rogers once said "The church is asleep, snuggled up in her pews with the covers pulled up over her head, and the sanctuary is dark. God’s alarm clock is going off. This is no time to push the snooze button!"
Jesus warned Peter, James & John that trouble was coming. Tragically they did not believe His warning. He said they would fall away and be scattered, but they were certain that they would remain faithful until the very end. If we are not vigilant, we may do the same. Our Master has warned us that trouble is coming; we must take His warning to heart and respond by keeping watch and praying.
- As we move further we will see that:
WE MUST KEEP WATCHING BECAUSE THE FLESH IS WEAK
When Jesus found the Disciples asleep in the Garden, He looked at Peter and said “Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (v38)
This is as much of a reality for us today as it was for those men there in Gethsemane. There is no shortage of people who profess their undying devotion to Jesus Christ. They say they are willing to deny themselves, they say they are willing to forsake all, they say that they are willing to follow Christ and that they would never deny or abandon Him. However, when troubles come, troubles that they never could have imagined previously, they turn away from Him.
The Disciples professed that would never leave Jesus, but the following day as the Savior hung on the cruel cross of Calvary, John was there, but the rest were nowhere to be found. In this assembly today are some people who professed unending devotion to Jesus Christ in the past, but somewhere along the way they turned away from Him. Countless people have heard the Word of God and were convinced that the message of the Gospel is true. They responded by standing and making a public profession of faith. After this they followed Jesus for a time but when troubles and trials came into their lives they did not remain faithful to Him. The Lord described this in The Parable Of The Sowers. He spoke of those seeds that had fallen on the rocks and said they represent “those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, and these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.”
Many who did not continue walking with Jesus never belonged to Him in the first place. But it is not just the unbeliever or the immature Christian who turns away when troubles come. There are times when the strongest servants of God encounter circumstances and situations that cause them to fail. Peter, James & John were the strongest of the strong and their actions show us that no one is exempt from failure in the Christian life. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak; therefore we must keep watching and remain faithful.
- This passage also shows us that:
WE MUST KEEP WATCHING BECAUSE SATAN IS SCHEMING
As Jesus was praying and the Disciples were sleeping Satan was scheming. At this very moment Judas Iscariot was in the process of leading the enemies of Christ to the Garden. After this intense time of prayer, Jesus returns to Peter, James and John and says “It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let us go; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”
Though it was Judas who was leading this mob to the Garden, Satan was hard at work behind the scenes. It is obvious that he is still at work today. He is attacking the name of Jesus Christ, he is attacking the church and instead of being awake and alert, many in the church are sound asleep. Like the Lord’s Disciples we live in a world of darkness, there is evil all around and our Adversary is looking for any opportunity to cause destruction. Knowing this, we must “keep watching”.
There are times when we are tired and weary from the fight. Undoubtedly there are times when we must stop, rest and recharge but even in these times we must remain alert and vigilant. Satan’s goal of destruction never ceases, and he is waiting for you to take your eyes off of the battle. Our Enemy is patient and he wait look for those moments when you hear the alarm and hit the snooze button and then he will attack. For this reason we must remain faithful and keep watching.
- We must keep watching because trouble is coming, we must keep watching because the flesh is weak, we must keep watching because Satan is scheming, and finally:
WE MUST KEEP WATCHING BECAUSE THE SAVIOR IS WORTHY
I can’t imagine how devastated Peter must have been when Jesus came to him and said “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not keep watch for one hour?” This man who had recently professed that he would never “fall away” and that he would die before he denied Jesus couldn’t even stay awake for a single hour.
There are some here today who, like Peter have made commitments and not followed through. You professed that you would be faithful to Jesus, but you haven’t. You committed to spend time in prayer and the study of His Word but you fail to do so. You have agreed to serve in His church but your service has ceased. Somewhere along the way your priorities changed those commitments that you once made are no longer important to you. I encourage you to make the decision that today will be the day that you return to the work God has called you to do.
We can look to Peter’s actions in Mark 14 as an example of what not to do, however he also shows us how to respond when we realize that we have fallen. After his third denial of Jesus “immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said the statement to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And throwing himself down, he began to cry. (v72)
There are some people in the church today who need to realize how far they have fallen and respond by shedding some bitter tears of repentance. There is no doubt that Peter failed in a big way, however, the wonderful news is that Jesus forgave and restored him. Rest assured if you will respond accordingly to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, you can be restored today.
There are some in attendance today who have never surrendered to Jesus, as a result you are lost, dead in trespasses and sins and headed for Hell. There is good news for you as well. God’s only Son, Jesus Christ came to earth, lived a perfect life, and died a horrific death so that you could be redeemed. After His death He was placed in a borrowed tomb, three days later He walked out of that tomb alive and He lives forevermore. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for the sins of man; God accepted His sacrifice and if you will put your faith, hope and trust in Him, you can be saved today.
Those of us who are saved accept these truths. We survey the scriptures and we see all of the many things that our Lord has done, is doing and will do for us. Time does not permit us to cover all of the many reasons that our Savior is worthy. But He is exceedingly worthy of our vigilance and faithfulness.
Trouble is coming, the flesh is weak, Satan is scheming and the Savior is worthy. For these reasons and many more we must “Keep Watching And Remain Faithful”
