The Revelation of the Flesh
Matthew 26:
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ”‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Pick a number from 1-9. Subtract 5. Multiply by 3. Square the number. (Multiply by the same number-not a square root.) Add the digits until you get only one digit i.e. 64=6+4=10, 10=1+0=1. If the number is less than 5, add five. Otherwise subtract 4. Multiply by 2. Subtract 6. Map the digit to a letter in the alphabet 1=A, 2=B, 3=C, etc.... Pick a name of a country that begins with that letter. Take the second letter in the country name and think of a mammal that begins with that letter. Think of the color of that mammal.
Let me guess. You picked a gray elephant from Denmark. These mind exercises are meant to show the predictability of the human mind. I don’t know exactly how of why it works that way, but for some reason our brains are usually hard wired to think that way.
In our text for today, Jesus predicted, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me.” Why would this happen? First of all, because God had predicted it in Zechariah 13:7 that when the shepherd was struck that the sheep would scatter. God’s Word never lies. Yet this is not only a revelation based on the trustworthiness of God’s Word. Jesus also mentioned that these things happen because “the flesh is weak.” And so tonight we will listen to Jesus give us a
Revelation of the Flesh
I. By Jesus’ words
In our previous lesson, Jesus had predicted that ONE of them would betray Him. This led them to do some great soul searching of themselves and ask the question, “surely, not I Lord?” After some deep thoughts, the remaining eleven disciples probably decided that someone else would betray him, assuming that they really WOULDN’T do such a thing. Maybe later on they caught on to the fact that Judas was the man. We don’t know for sure. But either way, Jesus said to them not long afterwards, “hold on a minute. You aren’t so strong either. As a matter of fact, not only will one of you betray me, but this very night you will ALL fall away on account of me.” That word for “fall away” is actually called “skandalon” or “stumbling block.” Jesus used this word in His ministry to refer to the Jews and all people who REJECTED him as the Christ and fell from faith. And that seems to be what Jesus was predicted about the disciples - ALL of them.
Now Peter, the outspoken and passionate disciple couldn’t accept this kind of a prediction. There’s no way he could worm out of that one. So what did he say? “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” You could almost catch Peter’s reasoning - “Jesus, surely you can’t mean me! Maybe these other guys - but not me!” 34 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. After Peter and the disciples had examined themselves, they didn’t believe that they had the capacity for such cowardice. It was as if they were trying to convince themselves that they wouldn’t do this - giving themselves their own pep rally - so to speak. They didn’t like the way this conversation was leading, and they tried to deny such a possibility.
Think about this for a minute. Isn’t it sad that Jesus could predict such a thing of his disciples? That he knew their weaknesses and limitations so well that he could predict such a desertion? And such a prediction it was - that Jesus’ close friends would leave him standing alone! The disciples just didn’t think it was possible. Isn’t it also a sorry revelation of the weaknesses of the human flesh? If man really were so free and so powerful as to have his future in HIS hands, there’s no way that Jesus or God’s Word could have predicted such a thing. But Jesus knew the Scriptures and their weaknesses so well that he KNEW they would all fall away on account of him.
I’ll never forget when the present Vice President of our Synod stood before us prior to our departure in the ministry and telling a story about a minister of 20 years who ended up having an affair with a woman and ruining his ministry and his marriage. He then said, “gentlemen, I’ll never understand how someone could be so FOOLISH as to throw all of his ministry and life away for sex!” It didn’t make sense to him. But that’s the whole concept that Jesus is trying to get across. You would think that if anyone would be strong - it would be a pastor in the ministry for 20 years. But that happens so often in life. The people who you would LAST expect to do something, end up doing it. You see, if the devil can convince you that a temptation is FAR OFF - not a real threat - then he has you right where he wants you. No matter how long you’ve been a Christian - your flesh is still weak. No matter how strong you THINK your will is - or how many VOWS you make - whether it’s not to have sex before marriage - to stand up for your faith - to stay faithful - your flesh is still so sinfully weak - it will always try to take the easy way out - or to indulge itself in whatever it wants. Listen to Jesus words of warning. Never proudly think in terms of, “I would never. . .” You may be setting yourself up for a fall.
II. By the disciples’ flesh
Well, the disciples just wouldn’t listen to Jesus words of warning. So when he stepped down from the pulpit with the disciples in a state of denial, another preacher came to the pulpit - their own flesh. Pastor Flesh declared to the disciples, “if you won’t listen to God, then let me show you the truth.” He then proceeded to show the disciples their own weaknesses by their own actions. And what’s the first thing the disciples did after he went off to pray? He returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. . . He went away a second time and prayed . . . When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? The disciples were so convinced they were so strong, but what did this episode in the garden reveal to them about their flesh? They weren’t as strong as they thought they were!
However, Pastor Flesh wasn’t done with his revelation - the worst revelation of the flesh was yet to come. The disciples tried to show how strong their flesh was. Matthew says, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Peter tried to flex his muscles - tried to do what was right. But when push came to shove, and Jesus gave his disciples the opportunity to leave, what happened? All the disciples deserted him and fled. Just as Jesus began his ministry all alone in the desert and being strengthened by an angel, so Jesus’ ended his ministry all alone and being strengthened by an angel.
It only got worse from there. Later on, as Peter followed Jesus, he was no longer with his friends. John was able to go into the courtyard, and Peter had to wait behind at the gate, alone. When the accusations started flying, Peter had to make a decision - either go to the cross now with Christ, or desert him. He made the choice. Three times he denied and even swore that he didn’t know the man. It would not be until Jesus rose from the dead - right prior to Jesus’ ascension, that the disciples would finally be brought back together. Until that time, you’ll never see an instance in between Jesus’ death and his ascension that all 11 are together. The devil was able to play on their fears, as they were hiding behind closed doors. He was able to leave them in confusion and disarray. Their own voices and their own actions revealed the truth to them - they were all WEAK and SINFUL creatures of flesh who fell away during a time of persecution.
It really is humiliating, isn’t it, when we do the same thing? We think we’re so strong, but then we catch ourselves doing the most disgusting things - thinking thoughts that we have no right thinking - making remarks that have no business coming out of our mouths - and doing things that we never thought we’d be doing - especially after years of overcoming that same temptation. The sad thing is that we know better and we know that we shouldn’t have said or done it. Example - just this past week I had bought a backdrop that I was trying to put on my fish tank, and the thing wasn’t going on right. So here are both of my kids, sitting there eating, and asking me questions while I’m trying to mess with this thing. I know I’ve had a problem with my temper before. I’ve fought with it. I’ve prayed about it. I’ve vowed to myself, “I’m going to get control of it!” But they just kept asking the questions - “dad, when are you gonna be done? Dad, isn’t it working right? Dad, what are you doing? Dad, are you fixing the fish tank?” Wouldn’t you know it, after question after question after question keep coming at me, I had to snap at them, “just don’t bother me right now! Leave me alone right now, OK! You’re really perturbing me!” Now, they were just curious kids. But there I did it again. And then, after I get it put on, I thought about what I said, and I was disgusted with myself. The most disappointing thing about it is when you think you’ve got control, and then you totally lose it. When you’re supposed to be the role model, and you fail miserably.
III. Through Jesus’ struggles
Isn’t it so comforting then, to see Jesus not fail. He too, struggled with his weak human flesh. He said to His disciples, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” . . . 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Jesus knew that He was going to have to go through the most painful thing in the world in a few moments. Whereas the disciples deserted him, Jesus would intimately join himself not only with the disciples, but with the whole world. He would become them on the cross. He would intimately entwine and fill Himself with the sins of the world. And what was worse - was that the same Father that He had prayed to and conversed with throughout his life on earth - His intimate Self - would even desert Jesus on the cross and put Jesus through hell. This happened when Jesus said, “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Was this something that His flesh would enjoy? Not at all! It was only natural for Jesus to be filled with sorrow and be hesitant to walk through such a fire! He even prayed to God to let him save the world another way!
But even though His flesh was weak - look at what happened! After His prayer, God sent an angel to strengthen Him. And after God told Jesus that this was the ONLY way to save the world, look at how Jesus responded. He returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” With a renewed boldness Jesus went through with it! He did it! He didn’t give in to his flesh. And in so doing, Jesus rescued us from our flesh! He courageously paid for our treachery. What’s interesting, is that the word for “desert” is afihmi, the same word that God uses for “forgiveness.” So whereas our version of sending away involved deserting Jesus to die at the cross alone, Jesus’ version of “sending away” was taking our sins and sending them into his body to be buried forever in the grave! Jesus knew all the long that we were weak and traitorous creatures of the flesh. He revealed it as plain as could be to the disciples and us. Yet instead of deserting us, Jesus not only became ONE of us, he actually became us and died for us. What a revelation for us of our wonderful Savior!
When a person grows older, you notice something that happens with age. Your flesh begins to sag. You start noticing overhanging flesh on your elbows. You start to see wrinkles under your eyes. It’s the sign of flesh that has been worn and stretched out - no longer smooth like a baby’s. The only way to prevent this - to some extent - is either to exercise the flesh or to use special moisturizers and cream.
In a spiritual way, the same thing can happen. You would think that our sinful flesh would get stronger after being a seasoned Christian. But instead, it’s often disappointing when our sinful flesh only sags and wilts under the continual pressures and temptations of life. Jesus revealed that often our flesh will give in under the pressures of temptation, because it’s weak.
So what does Jesus say to us weak creatures of flesh? “Watch and pray, that you will not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Your flesh is weak, and my flesh is weak. But God is strong. His love is strong. His Spirit is strong - stronger than the devil and stronger than our flesh. The body of Christ that we take in the Lord’s Supper - which gives us God’s forgiveness - is stronger than our flesh. So keep watching - stay in the Word - and keep praying - for forgiveness and strength through faith in Christ. Amen.
