Scripture Verse: Mark 14:26-42
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did know what to say to him.41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Key Verse: Could you not watch with me one hour? (Mark 14:37)
Meditation: Loneliness is one of our society’s greatest problems: The illness comes from being separated from significant people and the loneliness of spirit, with no real interpersonal linkage. We can be surrounded by a chattering crowd of people, but feel all alone. The profound “cosmic loneliness” comes from sensing no significant place in our world. Some philosopher said, “We don’t know why we were born; we are doing here, or where we are going.”
Jesus, in His humanity, experienced the loneliness of not being understand by others. As we have seen in the past studies, even those closest to Him, the twelve, only half understood His mission in the world. They certainly did not comprehend the obtuseness of their own hearts.
Jesus also experienced the loneliness of being misunderstood and having His motivations questioned. The Pharisees, because of their cultural prejudice, could not understand how He could eat with publicans and other sinners. Jesus (the promised one of Israel) could not have any human linkage with these spiritual athletes of Israel. The crowds, too, were fickle, clamoring to be with Him when they were fed or entertained, but siding with antagonists when bored.
Thought for the Day: Jesus demonstrated that identification with Him might be a lonely choice.
Loneliness is a strange condition. We are usually born alone and we will make our final journey alone as well. Loneliness has been the blame for many addictions. Many times the course of history has been changed with the courage of just one man (or lady) as well. So being physically alone is not the problem. It is being spiritually alone that is the source of dis-ease.
I personally believe that the Pharisees, well versed in their knowledge of the Original (Old) Testament knew that Jesus was indeed the promised one. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. John 3:2
They choose not to accept him publicly for many reasons. This rejection was predicted in the original Testament as well. But it is the foreigners-Gentiles- the Roman Centurion, the Samaritan woman, the woman with the issue of blood and many others, including the tax collectors who were seen as traitors as they worked for the occupiers (the Romans)--people who were open to a miracle because of they knew there was nothing, no one else to heal and to help them out. NO amount of obeying the Talmud would help or cure them. The rejection of Jesus came because they had no choice.
The Pharisees only had two choices. Accept or reject. These are the same choices we all have. To accept the teachings of this man meant they had to change. To reject the teachings was to keep their "job" position in the society that they had helped to correct under the Romans and their many gods.
Jesus accepted loneliness as a condition of being human. He did not avoid it. He did not reject his disciples when he did wake them up three times. He understood their frailty. He accepted their ignorance as well. He did not question their place in his life, or their salvation. They knew He was in control of all things. He has taught them to rest in his presence.
It is in our loneliness that we need to come to Christ. As it is there that Jesus will meet us. Perhaps it is just that part of our humanness that God has placed in our spirits that will bring us closer to Him. A lonely spirit is God's putty.
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did know what to say to him.41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Key Verse: Could you not watch with me one hour? (Mark 14:37)
Jesus, in His humanity, experienced the loneliness of not being understand by others. As we have seen in the past studies, even those closest to Him, the twelve, only half understood His mission in the world. They certainly did not comprehend the obtuseness of their own hearts.
Jesus also experienced the loneliness of being misunderstood and having His motivations questioned. The Pharisees, because of their cultural prejudice, could not understand how He could eat with publicans and other sinners. Jesus (the promised one of Israel) could not have any human linkage with these spiritual athletes of Israel. The crowds, too, were fickle, clamoring to be with Him when they were fed or entertained, but siding with antagonists when bored.
Thought for the Day: Jesus demonstrated that identification with Him might be a lonely choice.
Loneliness is a strange condition. We are usually born alone and we will make our final journey alone as well. Loneliness has been the blame for many addictions. Many times the course of history has been changed with the courage of just one man (or lady) as well. So being physically alone is not the problem. It is being spiritually alone that is the source of dis-ease.
I personally believe that the Pharisees, well versed in their knowledge of the Original (Old) Testament knew that Jesus was indeed the promised one. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. John 3:2
They choose not to accept him publicly for many reasons. This rejection was predicted in the original Testament as well. But it is the foreigners-Gentiles- the Roman Centurion, the Samaritan woman, the woman with the issue of blood and many others, including the tax collectors who were seen as traitors as they worked for the occupiers (the Romans)--people who were open to a miracle because of they knew there was nothing, no one else to heal and to help them out. NO amount of obeying the Talmud would help or cure them. The rejection of Jesus came because they had no choice.
The Pharisees only had two choices. Accept or reject. These are the same choices we all have. To accept the teachings of this man meant they had to change. To reject the teachings was to keep their "job" position in the society that they had helped to correct under the Romans and their many gods.
Jesus accepted loneliness as a condition of being human. He did not avoid it. He did not reject his disciples when he did wake them up three times. He understood their frailty. He accepted their ignorance as well. He did not question their place in his life, or their salvation. They knew He was in control of all things. He has taught them to rest in his presence.
It is in our loneliness that we need to come to Christ. As it is there that Jesus will meet us. Perhaps it is just that part of our humanness that God has placed in our spirits that will bring us closer to Him. A lonely spirit is God's putty.
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