Facing Jesus #3 - Peter, James and John
Matthew Mark Luke John
Words of Jesus are underlined
BFFs, “Best friends forever.” Does it surprise you to know that Jesus had special friends within his 12 special friends? John is even called “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” These men were also with Jesus at His Transfiguration and were sleepy then too. How did they face Jesus? How did they see Him through their sleepy eyelids?
How do you face Jesus? We too, have a willing spirit, but a weak flesh. And yet Jesus has declared Himself to be a “friend of sinners”. Lord Jesus, help us to “watch and pray so that we won’t enter into temptation.”
Jesus Agonizes in the Garden
Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”
Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake one hour? Stay awake and pray so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And he came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to him.
After leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. See, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”
(Mark 14:32–34; Matthew 26:38–39a; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:43–46a; Mark 14:37b–38; Matthew 26:42–43; Mark 14:40b; Matthew 26:44–45; Mark 14:41b–42 CSB17)
How does it make you feel to know that Jesus had special friends?
These special friends let Jesus down. How does it feel when that happens to you? In what specific ways have you done it to Jesus lately?
Have you ever been “exhausted from grief”? What grief were these disciples exhausted from?
In what ways is your spirit willing? Your flesh weak? What can we do about it?
Follow this sermon series on our YouTube channel.