May 22

Mark 14:32-42 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Observation

There was a Utah Jazz coach named Frank Layden during the 1980s. He was a heavy set man but all around nice and funny guy. During his tenure, he had a center named Drew. He was built like Shaq but lacked any motivation. Exasperated, the coach said, “What is the matter with you Drew? Is it your ignorance or your apathy?” Drew then replied, “Coach, I don’t know and I don’t care.” In today’s passage, in his perhaps his darkest hour, Jesus asked his three of his most trusted disciples to stay awake, not once, not twice, but three times. But all three times, they all went back to sleep. Jesus then is asking, “What is the matter with you Peter, is it your apathy or your ignorance?” But Peter is too sleepy even to answer. What would cause a well informed and well intentioned man like Peter to fall asleep? Jesus said in verse 38, it was because Peter’s spirit was willing, but Peter’s flesh was weak.

Application

Good intention and good heart can only go so far. Perhaps this is the reason why James 2:17 writes, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead”. Of course this does not mean that our salvation is somehow linked with our action. However, by the same token, if our faith is genuine, then it will undoubtedly be shown through our life style. As the word disciple and discipline share the same origin, I think it is important for us Christians not only to have a good heart, but also to have a good discipline or training. Pastor Jim Bob once said, “I am willing to run the LA marathon. My intention is genuine. But without the proper training, this will never happen,”

Prayer

Dear Lord,
If I am sleeping spiritually, will you awake me from my sleep? If my flesh is so weak and cannot be awakened, then will you grant me the strength today so that my flesh will not be so weak? Grant me a discipline so that I may live a full life as a disciple of Christ.

--Joey