Scripture

“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Observation

As they go to the Mount of Olives, Jesus says to his disciples that that night they will all desert Him. Peter declares that he will never abandon Jesus. But Jesus tells him that very night, Peter will deny three times that he even knows Jesus.

They go to the grove called Gethsemane. Jesus tells them to stay there, taking Peter, James, and John a little further. He asks them to keep watch with Him.

After a while, Jesus returns to the three to find that they are asleep. Again He prays and returns a second time to find them asleep.

Finally Jesus returns a third time and find that Judas has arrived with some guards to arrest Him.

Application

The words of Jesus to his disciples are relevant to us today. “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”

We cannot live the Christian life in our own strength. The fleshy part of us is too weak. If we depend on our own virtue, Satan will trip us up every time.

The key is to put the flesh to death, to crucify our old nature. Then we will realise that we have no strength of ourselves and must fully rely on Christ.

“Keep watch and pray.” Jesus tells us we must stay alert for the signs of the evil one. We must recognise patterns of temptation so that we can see the attack coming.

Then we must pray as earnestly is Jesus did. Pray for the ability to stand firm in Christ. Pray for all sorts of other things also. It is this close intimacy with God that allows us to overcome evil.

Prayer

Lord, when I am tempted, please remind me to pray and to seek you. There is no good thing that I can do of myself, but you sustain me and keep me. Amen.