Matthew__26

 

SCRIPTURE

 

Matthew 26:33-35 and 41

 

33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same....41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

 

OBSERVATION-What does it say?

 

Jesus had just finished having his last dinner (supper) with His disciples and introduced the first communion. He also brought to light Judas’ future betrayal and Peter’s denial of Him. Peter profusely refused that he would ever disown Jesus. All the other disciples said the same thing (vs. 35). Jesus then asked them later to go to Gethsemane with Him and stay alert and awake in prayer so that they don’t fall into temptation. Although it was part of God’s bigger plan, they still fell into it.

 

UNDERSTANDING-What does it mean? 

 

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (verse 41).”

 

Jesus was tempted to leave the cup of death behind as evidenced in the couple of times He asked God to take the cup from Him; but because of prayer, He knew that He had to do God’s will instead of His own. Prayer gave Him the strength to move ahead with God’s will instead of leaving it behind.

 

If Jesus was tempted in this way, He knew His disciples would be struggling with the same thing, especially due to their overconfidence and pride that they would NEVER deny Him. He invited them to prayer with Him, but instead, they fell asleep and gave into the temptation of disowning Jesus, instead of overcoming it!

 

“The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

 

LIFE APPLICATION

 

Prayer keeps us humble.

 

Our faith is dependent on Him and His Spirit alone, not our own strength. Overconfidence, pride and being “sleepy/lazy” with our personal communication with Him is usually what’s at the root of rebellion.

 

Being raised in the church world and attending since I was in the womb, I can tell you that the reason why we need Jesus as the Head of the body is because the bride is not perfect. We even hear of stories of ministry leaders and people we trust have moral failures. Some of us can attest to our own. For those who know my 2nd testimony, I will be the first to personally admit that. 100% of the time, overconfidence and pride is at the root of the rebellion.

 

We need Jesus, His Word, prayer and worship EVERYDAY, not just on Sunday or on our Sabbath rest day. We can't just rely on the label of “Christian” or rely on church leaders to protect us. Our everyday relationship and having Him as Lord (aka giving Him the right to tell us what to do as Pastor says), is what will keep us standing firm in the faith. We have to stay alert and can’t get sleepy with it. The principalities and powers in the spiritual realm are the devil's A-team, but they don't stand a chance against our Mighty Warrior Jesus!  We must stay connected and plugged in to the Vine! We cannot do anything apart from Him (John 15:5).

 

“Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Take my heart, Lord, take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above.” -My favorite part of the hymn “Come Thou Fount” that can be read as a personal prayer too.

 

-Michelle Gaddi