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32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.”[d] 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
From The Voice
38 Stay awake, and pray that you aren’t led into a trial of your own. It’s true—even when the spirit is willing, the body can betray it.
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ReplyDeleteI personally don't think that the body is as evil as we sometimes think it is and that the human spirit is as pure as we tend to think it is. The body and soul and very much connected. Look at the resurrection! It wasn't just the soul that rose. It was also the body.
ReplyDeleteWhat I get out of this passage is that the disciples didn't listen or understand the full gravity of what was going to happen. They lacked empathy. Jesus asked them to share these last moments with him and prayer and support and instead, they slept. If they had really cared, they would not have let their bodies fall asleep. So, I guess I question how willing they actually were. It seems to me that they weren't letting the Spirit in at all. To me, it was their will that betrayed them. Not just their bodies.
Mark 14
ReplyDeleteA Woman Prepares Jesus’ Body for the Tomb
Matthew 26:6–13; John 12:1–8
3 Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had suffered from a skin disease. While Jesus was sitting there, a woman went to him. She had a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard. She opened the bottle and poured the perfume on his head.
4 Some who were there were irritated and said to one another, “Why was the perfume wasted like this? 5 This perfume could have been sold for a high price, and the money could have been given to the poor.” So they said some very unkind things to her.
6 Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 7 You will always have the poor with you and can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have me with you. 8 She did what she could. She came to pour perfume on my body before it is placed in a tomb. 9 I can guarantee this truth: Wherever the Good News is spoken in the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
I am reminded of Matthew 26:8-12; I have dated 7-20-99 in my Bible and written by it, You are the perfume. My husband and several other men from our church went to Belize to help make cement blocks and build a house at a mission base for a family there where they were serving. People asked why with the cost of airfare and supplies being taken, why the money wasn't sent instead. So clear the Lord said to me, "You are the perfume." I shared that with the team as they were meeting prepared to leave to the airport.
Mark 14
Preparations for the Passover
Matthew 26:17–20; Luke 22:7–17
12 Killing the Passover lamb was customary on the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The disciples asked Jesus, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”
13 He sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city. You will meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him. 14 When he goes into a house, tell the owner that the teacher asks, ‘Where is my room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 15 He will take you upstairs and show you a large room. The room will be completely furnished. Get everything ready for us there.”
16 The disciples left. They went into the city and found everything as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the twelve apostles.
I love the parallel here ~ when Jesus told them in advance where to go, what they would find, and what to say and do
Zechariah 9:9 and Matthew 21:2-7 and Mark 11:2-7; Luke 19:30
Mark 11
1 When they came near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead of him. 2 He said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there. No one has ever sat on it. Untie it, and bring it. 3 If anyone asks you what you are doing, say that the Lord needs it. That person will send it here at once.”
4 The disciples found the young donkey in the street. It was tied to the door of a house. As they were untying it, 5 some men standing there asked them, “Why are you untying that donkey?” 6 The disciples answered them as Jesus had told them. So the men let them go.
7 They brought the donkey to Jesus, put their coats on it, and he sat on it.