“Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?  Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”’ Mark 14:37-38(NIV)

This passage is an interesting lesson in the focus of God and the focus of man.  Notice what happens in this situation.  Jesus has warned the disciples of His impending betrayal and crucifixion.  He has given them explicit instructions to pray, so that they would not fall into temptation.  He has even warned Peter that he would deny knowing Jesus within the next few hours.  And the disciples fall asleep.

There was a similar time earlier in Jesus’ life when the roles were reversed.  Jesus was tired after a long day of ministering to the multitudes.  He had the disciples hop in the boat to go to the other side of the lake. Jesus fell asleep as they began to sail.  Before long, a storm moved in, and the waves were so great that they threatened to sink the boat. Jesus slept on.  Read what happened next, “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”  He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.  He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”’  Mark 4:38-40(NIV)

Do you notice the irony of the two situations?  Men and God are not concerned with the same things.  As Jesus, God in the flesh, dwelt among men, He tried to teach His disciples that it is the spiritual that is important not the physical.  We read of Jesus waking early in the morning while man slept to pray to God.  We see Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, and the disciples sleep.  And then in the Garden while God prays, man sleeps.

But in a boat when their life seems to be in the balance, the disciples rebuke Jesus, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”  Why were they afraid?  Jesus said they had little faith.

How is it that we can’t sleep at night when we are worried about the bills, or the car that needs repairing, or surgery that is coming up.  But we can sleep like a baby when our personal world seems stable, while a world that surrounds us is dying in sin. 

What keeps you up at night—the physical or the spiritual?  The answer tells you where your faith is.

Prayer:  Dear Father, we cry out to You to help our unbelief.  Help us to heed the example of Your Son who was always keenly aware of the difference between the physical and the spiritual. Make us men and women of Faith.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Maundy Thursday Tonight at 7:00 PM

Join us tonight at as we remember the Last Supper.

Selfies wanted!

We are putting together a video to celebrate the church.  Please send pictures of your family to Office@pinerbaptist.org