The Remedy For Weak Flesh - Mark 14:27-42 Series

Mark 14:27 "You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: " 'I will strike the shep-herd, and the sheep will be scattered.' 28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."

29 Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not."

30 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today-- yes, tonight-- before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times."

31 But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same.

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him,

and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them.

"Stay here and keep watch." 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if pos-sible the hour might pass from him. 36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

41 Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

Introduction: The Battle

The Garden of Gethsemane is the site of a massive spiritual battle—probably the fiercest ever fought.

Mark 14:42 Rise! Let us go!

That was the language they used to lead soldiers into battle. Jesus says, “Forward, march!” and leads them right into the teeth of not just a spiritual battle, but a physical one. Things are about to get violent.

And if we freeze the frame here in this moment when Jesus gives the order to advance into battle, look at the soldiers he’s leading. They’re half asleep. Can you imagine being a general and telling your men for months, “Get ready—make sure you’re prepared for the battle. It will be the worst you’ve ever faced. Practice with your sword, make sure you get some protein for breakfast, read up on our strategy manual, be ready! And when the moment arrives, you round up your men, and they’re all groggy stumbling around in a daze , none of them have their armor or swords. And you just sigh and say, “It’s time. Let’s go.” That’s what Jesus is facing here when he says, “Rise, let us go.”

They meet the enemy, the battle begins, and in the opening moments of the war, every one of the disciples fall. Jesus’ entire army collapses the moment the battle begins.

Jesus, on the other hand, doesn’t even flinch. He stands tall and doesn’t so much as back up a single step. He never falters the slightest bit in this war.

Today’s passage is the story of how it came to that point. It’s the story of how the disciples ended up going to war so weak, and how Jesus went in so strong. When you see Jesus standing there on trial, silent, poised, unflinching —you can hardly imagine this is the same person who was such a mess hours earlier in the garden —crying, wailing, falling to the ground, desperate, sweating blood, trying to find a way out. It doesn’t even seem like the same man. And when you look at the cowardly disciples all deserting and running for their lives , you can hardly imagine those are the same men who were so strong and resolved the night before.

The disciples were strong in the garden and fell in the battle, and Jesus was weak in the garden and stood strong in the battle —Mark is going to show us exactly how both of those came to be. So let’s back up to verse 27 so we can see how Mark sets the table. The setup is important.

The disciples’ failure and the reasons behind it are spelled out so clearly, there’s no question Mark’s purpose is to teach us how to avoid the same failure. And we’ll learn these principles twice—first by watching the disciples do it wrong, then by seeing Jesus do it right.