November 21
Painful Proof
But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all said likewise. Mark 14:31 (NKJV)
Yesterday we saw Jesus warning His disciples that they would all desert Him before the night was through. Yet Peter and the others insisted they would never do such a thing. In their minds, Jesus must have had His signals crossed. Even if it came to sacrificing their own lives, they would never abandon Him.
But Jesus is always right about us. He knows and sees us more accurately than we know ourselves, and now Mark’s gospel points us to the painful proof of this. Leaving the city of Jerusalem, they all made their way to the Garden of Gethsemane. Notice what Jesus said to these men who had just vowed to die for Him:
“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” Mark 14:34 (NKJV)
As Jesus entered into His greatest trial, He asked them to stand watch for Him. He went off to pour His heart out to His Father in prayer, but watch what He found when He returned to them:
He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?” Mark 14:37 (NKJV)
These men, who professed their willingness to die for Jesus, couldn’t stay awake for Him for one hour—painful proof that they were a lot weaker then they realized. Just to underscore this weakness, they did the same thing two more times (Mark 14:39-41)! And all of this comes before they actually abandon Jesus (Mark 14:50).
Sooner or later, the Lord is going to be proven right, especially when it comes to what He says about us. Our sense of self-confidence and pride may linger for a season, but that season will eventually end, which is why we’re wise to simply submit to what He says about us, and rely on His resources instead of our own.
Think About It…
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
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