“He Knows” – MARK 14:32-42

The agony of Jesus in the garden fully reveals His humanity (14:34).

As God, this is a non-issue since God is from everlasting to everlasting.

As a man, Jesus knew His body could die.

As God, He knew it was the way to redeem mankind, but as a man He dreaded the painful and cruel physical death He faced (14:35).

As God he knew this had been the plan from the beginning, but as a man He hoped for another way (14:36a).

As God, He went to the cross with determined joy, as a man, He was shaken with fear.

As God, He was in control, but as a man He was submissive to the will of another (14:36b).

The time that He would become sin was drawing near, and He was struggling (14:33).

Jesus knows what it is like to be human.

More than just His unique personal experience, this is also a fundamental moment of teaching by example. His first admonition was for Peter, James and John to “watch” (14:34). As His agonizing ordeal took Him into His solitude, these men fell asleep (14:37). They lacked in diligence. They lacked a sense of urgency. Their “I’m strong enough on my own” attitude prompted Jesus to add to His earlier admonition, now saying “Watch and pray” (14:38a). At times of such magnitude, they needed to include God by recognizing the power of prayer. Jesus was enduring great temptation to avoid the cross, but He recognized that the flesh was weak and His willing spirit could overcome with the Father’s help. A disciple of Jesus must likewise agonize over temptation and sin so that temptation not overcome us (14:38b).

Jesus knows exactly what we go through.

A second (14:40) and third (14:41) time Jesus returned to these men, each time finding them sleeping. Then came the betrayal (14:42). This pattern repeats itself each time a child of God is tempted. When we are watchful, temptation is easy to spot. When we are distracted or complacent, it can creep in without us knowing. Watchfulness and prayerfulness makes the child of God alert to the activity of Satan in our lives, but spiritual sleep leaves us wide open to sin. Jesus stayed awake and resisted temptation because He agonized over the power of sin. If we are not careful, we lose sensitivity to the sting of sin. If we allow it, the blessing of grace numbs us to the pain of sin and soon we fall asleep and fall to temptation. As temptation comes at you today, test yourself and see if you agonize over what Satan is trying to do with you.

Jesus knows how He wants you to do!