Tag: temptation

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Mark 14: 32-42

Who here has a problem with sin?
Who here, when you sin, feels dirty afterwards?
Who gets themselves upset and depressed when they sin?
 Who enjoys the feeling of shame and guilt after sin?

Today, I am going to teach you a method that will help you stop sinning. I do this because I really love you. I do not want you to have shameful feelings. I pray you will leave here living in the joy of living a holy life.

You won’t be perfect; that will be in heaven. To do this, turn with me to Mark 14:32-42. Jesus prays in Gethsemane. Throughout Mark’s gospel, he likes to make comparisons between extreme examples, to make the point. He pairs significant events – people and places in Jesus’ ministry. For example, he does this with the young woman who died at 12 years of age and the woman who bled for 12 years. There’s a comparison to be made there. We see the same things between the disciples and the Pharisees. They both made mistakes and the point between the comparison is the truth between them. Mark also compares different miracles, healing and feeding, and how Jesus controls the natural world. Mark pairs everything off so we can gain further wisdom from the comparisons.

Today’s comparison is between Jesus Himself and the three disciples, “And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.” (v.33). Peter, James and John. We know that Jesus is about to be arrested, brutally murdered by the state for the sin of the world. As God, Jesus knew what was going to happen. As a man, Jesus was utterly terrified. Jesus was absolutely terrified about what was coming – the cross. Jesus is actually overwhelmed. What do you do, as a Christian, when you are overwhelmed? Pray. Jesus needed trusted friends to watch – Peter, James and John. Interestingly, these are the same three He chose to watch the Transfiguration. These three had seen the glory of Jesus, where He shone like the sun. Surely these men, who had seen the transfiguration, would stand firm for their Saviour. However, they did not, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (v.38). They let their Saviour down – they fell asleep.

Compare this account of the disciples’ failure to what Jesus did: The disciples fell asleep, Jesus stayed awake. Jesus fought temptation. He could have run away, never to be arrested, never to face the cross. But in love, He stayed in Gethsemane to be arrested. He fought the temptation to flee until His flash started to break down. In Luke’s account, chapter 22, Jesus fought to this extent until His capillaries burst, until He sweat drops of blood. Never question His love for you. He left heaven to allow His flesh be broken. What a Saviour! Such love!

This torture was in utter contrast to the disciples, who gave into their sinful flesh and went to sleep, letting their Saviour down. Jesus’ pain, however, was not in His fight against the flesh. As God, Jesus cannot sin. His fight, His torment in the Garden of Gethsemane was caused by His requirement to embrace sin for our atonement. Jesus, the author of creation, eternally one with God the Father and Spirit, in perfect triune holiness, pure love, was about to take unto Himself the sins of the world. Your sin. My sin. On Him. He was about to be treated as if He had committed every act of violence, every act of hate, every act of perversion that every human being has ever done. The vilest thing, the violinist thought you have ever had. In love for you, Jesus said, ‘Give it all to me.’

The consequences of this meant He had to break the eternal bond with the Father as He turned His face away. Jesus’ pain wasn’t fighting against the temptation to sin, it was fighting the temptation, as a holy God, to flee from sin. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, because of your sin and because of my sin, later cried out on the cross, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (15:34). What a thing for Him to have to say. In the greatest act of love, by taking unto Himself our sin, the Son had to receive the wrath of His Father that we and other Christians justly deserve.

The perfect Lamb of God, on Calvary’s hill, took an eternity of wrath. He took the holy fire that purges all evil, for the faithful. Aren’t you grateful to be among the faithful? He took the judgement we deserve so we don’t have to face it. Hallelujah! Can you imagine the holy Lamb of God fighting against His calling to take unto Himself the sins of the world?

What we reach here is not just Jesus praying in the garden, but a divine conflict. Jesus is praying in Gethsemane. ‘Gethsemane’ means ‘olive press,’ the place where olives were crushed, squeezed by opposing forces, so what is inside can be squeezed out to make oil. Under this moment of divine pressure, as Jesus is crushed, we see love being poured out. He pleaded with His Father to let this cup pass, but then He cries out, because He loves us and He loves Hi Father, ‘‘Not my will, but thine be done.’

The cry if the Christian is, ‘Not my will, but thine be done.’ This simple prayer can help you to stop sinning. My dear friends, when you are having your time of prayer as a church, with your bibles open, you are not committing an outward sin. When you are praying, you are not searching for something online you shouldn’t be watching or lying to a loved one. When you are in the presence of God, His holiness makes you so aware of your sinful nature you are less likely to sin. You are less likely to commit outward, public sins. Temptation is a killer. ‘The wages of sin are death.’ When you are tempted, put down immediately what is leading you astray and pray to the Father, ‘Not my will, but thine be done.’

When you say this prayer, be reminded of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane. In His fight Against temptation, He took you sins because He loves you. He put it to death. So should you. That sin you are about to commit, He would have taken to the cross. ‘‘Not my will, but thine be done.’  

It is not that easy. Life is hard. We live in a world filled with temptation. We can’t just say a few words and all this temptation will go away. It is too hard. Every day we fall into sin. How can we stay awake if the disciples who saw the Transfiguration couldn’t keep watch for even one hour? My answer is quite simple and beautiful. It is grace. Jesus, here in Gethsemane, is being pressed in divine conflict, in mental anguish. His body is breaking down. His only comfort is to plead with His Father. Yet, He breaks this time of prayer to see the disciples are OK, “And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?” (v.37). Isn’t that profound! Jesus is preparing to go through Hell. Hell for Peter’s sin. Hell for James’ sin. Hell for John’s sin. Yet, He stops His prayer time with His Father to make sure they are O.K.

What a God we serve. As our mediator, He does the same for each of us today. We get the same treatment as Peter, James and John. We too are His disciples. He will wake you up from your sleep. Jesus is unchanging. He breaks time with His Father to see you are OK. In love, He will get you back on track. That is overwhelming. That is grace. What a Saviour we come to worship. ‘Not my will but thine be done.’