The Daily Word: Tuesday, March 9th, 2021
Numbers 11:24-13:33
Mark 14:22-52
Psalm 52:1-9
Proverbs 11:1-3
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – Mk. 14:37-38
As Jesus prayed in the Garden at Gethsemane, He knew what was coming. His soul was, “exceedingly sorrowful, even to death” (v 34). He prayed that God would take away his “cup”: His destiny to die on the Cross! But then He retraced: “…nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will” (v 36).
As Jesus was in an intense spiritual battle, He gave the disciples a simple task: “Watch and pray” (v 38). But they couldn’t do it! Instead, they fell asleep. Jesus went away to pray three times; and all three times, He returned and found His disciples sleeping. We see His eventual frustration in verse 41: “It is enough! The hour has come…”
The disciples should have been praying; and instead they were sleeping. This is the state of the Church. We should be praying! All night. All day. For hours at a time! But instead we’re sleeping. We’re resting. We’re in spiritual hospice, making ourselves comfortable until we die. And what do we expect Jesus’ response will be when He comes to collect us so that the end times can be fulfilled?
Watch and pray. You see, Jesus didn’t need the disciples to pray for Him! He needed them to pray for themselves. The disciples fell asleep; and then they fell into sin. They denied Jesus! And if we want to boldly preach the Gospel in all the world so that the name of Jesus is called upon like never before, we have to wake up!
Prayer:
Father, wake up Your church! Our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak. Help us never to sleep when we should be awake. Help us never to doze off when we should be praying! We want to be powerfully used by You; and we confess that cannot happen unless we start to pray.
© Michael D. White, 2021. All rights reserved.