The Spirit is Ready, but the Flesh is Weak”...the Wayfarer 8/16/13

8/16/13
The Spirit is Ready, but the Flesh is Weak”

“And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch one hour?

Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.”

(Mark 14:37 & 38)

Today, we look at the arrest and betrayal of Christ, and the reactions of the disciples, their foibles, and failures, as well as their strengths.

Here we find Jesus, in preparation for the coming trial and crucifixion, in the garden, in prayer to his Father. Mark, unlike John does not detail the power of that prayer, but I call to the reader’s remembrance of the passage used in a previous sermon, “Not for these only”, how deep the sorrow and concern our Savior expressed during this prayer, far more for the disciples and us than for his own physical worries.

“And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.

And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.

And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come, behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.”

(Mark 14:39-42)

The disciples, left in the care of Simon Peter, were given a simple task; to stand guard, to watch and wait while Jesus prayed.

Any who has ever had the honor of serving in a branch of our armed services should be well aware of the importance of this simple task.

It is one of the basic tasks, stressed over and over in its importance to each young soldier, and enforced by the memorization of general orders surrounding that importance.

The very first of these general orders, once taught in a different lifetime by this old soldier was:

“I will guard everything within the limits of my post, and will quit my post only when properly relieved.”

The reasoning behind this order is to assure continuity, and constant observation and attention to the protection of whatever, or more importantly whoever is being guarded.

Simon Peter failed in the execution of this simple task, and, just as would any young soldier observing this failure in a leader, so did the others!

It was not that the order given was ignored; we are told that their eyes were heavy. Had Peter taken the time to set a watch that incorporated all, perhaps the watch would have been more effective, though the end result would have to have been the same.

The point I attempt to make of these few verses, is that even the most faithful, no matter how well meaning, are still capable of that failure without both the leadership of one aware of the importance of the tasks given, and the will to accomplish that task.

Three times our Savior came and found his disciples asleep on the job, even after being admonished twice to keep watch!

Take note that the third time, Jesus said to sleep on, take their rest, that the time for watchfulness was over, that the betrayal was completed and that the betrayer was at hand!

“And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him and lead him away safely.

And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith Master, master; and kissed him.

And they laid their hands on him, and took him.”

(Mark 14:43-46)

Judas, keeper of the purse, one of the twelve who followed Christ throughout most of his earthly ministry, sold out our Lord for the pittance of thirty pieces of silver.

His greed and covetousness and envy never allowed him to see Jesus for who he really was.

He heard all the teachings of Christ, witnessed the miracles, walked beside him continually, yet failed to recognize Him for who he was.

Even in his betrayal, still he called him Master, and even more poignant gave him away to the priests and scribes by kissing him, an act intended to convey friendship and love.

How many sell out our Savior each day for that same greed, envy and covetousness, yet continue publicly call him Master and proclaim a false love, as is evidenced by the same failure to recognize Him for who He IS and show that recognition through showing the love demanded by Him in the one commandment left us by Him?

“And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?

I was daily with you in the temple, teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.

(Mark 14:47-49)

Jesus was constant in his ministry.  At any time during his teaching in the various temples where he taught, those priests and scribes could have come against him and taken him.

 They failed to do so because they knew that many had in fact accepted Christ, and that they could not gainsay, or deny his teachings publicly without giving away their own false piety and righteousness.

They chose instead to take him by night, out of the observance of those who listened to his word and believed, so that the charges that would be leveled could be trumped up and get the attention of those in power, and they could finally be rid of this teacher who revealed them for who and what they really were.

How often we find the same subversiveness, and deceit among those who have the same fear of the light of day today. How often we find the same willingness to destroy those who would honor the teachings of this Master, and proclaim that all should follow those teachings and instead perverting those teachings to their own interests, most usually for the same reasons that Judas had for his denial and betrayal!

“And they all forsook him and fled.

And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him;

And he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.”

(Mark 14:50-53)

At this point, take note that we are told that ALL forsook him and ran for their own lives.  NONE stood fast and firm beside Him in defense of the one they walked with, listened to, broke bread with on a daily basis for so long, One who continually defended their actions against the very scribes and priests who now came to take Him, One who had already told them that there was no greater love than that a man lay down his life for them. NONE showed either the faith, or the love, they professed for Him.

One of them was so concerned for his own wellbeing and life that he chose to flee naked, leaving behind the expensive linen cloth in which he was dressed, showing little value for that expensive cloth, and even less for the Master he followed!

His priorities were clear at this point, self alone and above all else!

How many today fall into this same category when faced with any adversity in dealing with those who continue to persecute a risen Savior; by those who continue on in the self-righteousness shown by those who took our Lord captive that night?

“And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and elders and scribes.

And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.

And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.

For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

And there arose a certain, and bare false witness against him saying,

We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

But neither so did their witness agree together.

And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee?

But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

(Mark 14:53-62)

Peter, the rock, that Jesus said he would build his church upon, though he fled as did all the others, still followed, though from far enough away that he felt a relative safety.

He even managed to wind his way through those assembled into the chamber to warm himself in front of the fire while Christ was being tried.

From this position of relative comfort and safety he was able to hear all the false witness given by those determined, completely, to kill his Master, yet spoke he not one word in defense, not one word to negate the testimony given.

That testimony contradicted itself, because none of those assembled told exactly the same story, there was no truth in that testimony.

One of those, quoted here in Mark, twisted the words of our Lord to appear to make his words mean something far different than what was actually said in order to condemn him, and to give excuse for his execution.

How often we find this same twisting of words today.

 There are still those twisting His words and those of others to include the very writings of the gospel to justify their own perverted teachings that give license to do as they will instead of what was taught by our Lord.

These same will and do twist the words of those proclaiming the truth of those words, the context in which they are given, and the true meaning of those words in order to deny that truth and sell instead, quite often, the exact opposite of the simple requirements of redemption through repentance and adherence to the commandment of loving one another, given by that Master that they so love to misquote!

Jesus held his peace, not giving credence to the false claims made against him. He felt no need to defend against falsehood when truth was apparent to any who bothered to look or listen.

When asked plainly if he were the promised Christ, He answered with that same truth, knowing and realizing the consequences to be faced because of that truth!

“Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?

Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:

And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.

But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.

And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.

And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.

But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

And the second time the cock crew. And peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon he wept.”

(Mark 14:63-72)

The “trial” was over.... The kangaroo court of those assembled had spoken.... The verdict was unanimous.... All agreed that Jesus was to be killed for speaking the truth instead of denying it to save an earthly life.

Prosecutors only; no one for the defense; trumped up charges based on lies; and misstatements; no requirement made for any interests but for those of their own, the fate of our Lord was sealed in accordance with the prophecy given that this must happen, and that verdict was accepted and welcomed by Him!

Now everyone assembled had to get a piece of the action to further torture and taunt this convicted Savior, so like the actions of mob mentality that take place  in our cities and towns all over the world yet still today.

Peter, That Rock, denied his Master, still more interested in his own welfare  than that of his Master, not once, but three times running, even going to the point of railing at those asking about his affiliation with Him and cursing and swearing at them, completely out of character, and completely in contravention and contradiction to the very teachings of that Master.

Finally. the cock crowed for the third time, and Peter remembered that Jesus had told him that this would happen.... No doubt he also remembered that he swore at the time that this could never happen.

That is when he finally came to the point of personal repentance with a broken heart and contrite spirit which was required to be that Rock Jesus promised he would be.

How many times will it take, how much longer do we wait, before the denials cease and the realization sets in of the simple truth given by that Master, that redemption is possible, but only through repentance?

How grounded in faith, is each, in reality, when it is so much easier to sit by the fire and ignore the false witness being given in that trial, that is still going on today in this world, each and every time someone denies that there is only one Savior, only one intercessor, only one way to attain the Kingdom promised by that Master to any and all who truly believe on him?

How many times will the requirement to love one another be ignored by adhering continually to teachings of organizations and associations of men whose agenda have no room for the simple truths taught by our Lord?

I repeat again the message he gave throughout his ministry to all who would and all who will listen:

“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

Though I have already been longer than intended, I cannot leave without first going to another scripture that is of paramount importance as a reminder, not only of the failure of the disciples to keep watch when asked, but the requirement that still exists for us to keep that same watch!

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

(Matthew 24:42)

I also remind you of what is required during that watch, from ALL who claim to be his disciples, (Christians)

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.   AMEN

(Matthew 28:18-20)

Jesus gave us one commandment, to love one another; he also gave us one commission!

 It was not a request, it is a requirement!

When he returns, will he find you asleep on duty as he did those disciples? Will you fail in the first general order given by him to proclaim his love and show it to all?

Will you fail to heed the requirement to continuously and universally proclaim the gospel of his teachings?

Will He find you observing those teachings, or filling your pockets the same way and for the same purpose Judas did?

I close, as always, with the true and honest love, of a simple sinner saved by grace through faith in a risen savior still betrayed by a world that he loved and by a people unwilling to heed his simple warnings and equally simple requirement to attain the only gift that will ever be of any use as we stand at the throne.

 I close also as always, that same unworthy, but willing soldier in His service, in the knowledge that any worthiness or effectiveness will eventually come only through His Grace, no matter how great or small that service may be, and must be wrought in patience and labor, both of which I endeavor daily to strive toward.

2 Timothy 1:12
¹²For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

AMEN and AMEN
The Wayfarer