Thursday: The Night
Before
Scripture: Mark 14:22-42
Key verse: Mark 14:38— “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit
is willing, but the body is weak.”
Jesus ate his final meal before the cross knowing that one
disciple would leave go off into the night to betray him, and the rest at the
table would desert him. Jesus brought his closest friends to pray with him in
the garden, and they fell asleep. Jesus knew the weakness of the disciples, and
yet he broke the bread and offered his body and his blood to them in a new
covenant—a promise of life by the grace of God through the sacrifice he was
about to give.
It is amazing to think that Jesus knew all that was about to
take place, and yet he offered his body and blood to them anyway. He even
washed their feet! He told them ahead of time that they would abandon him, so
that when they did, they would realize that, even though Jesus knew what they
would do, he still gave himself willingly for them.
Jesus knows our weakness and our sin. He knows every
terrible thing we have done or will do. And he loves us anyway. While we were
still sinners, he died for us. What great love!
But he also meets us in our weakness. “Watch and pray,” he
says, “so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but
the flesh is weak.” In the Holy Spirit, Jesus promises to walk with us and to
strengthen us. Our part is to stay alert and to keep praying. Will you walk in
his strength and love today?
Prayer:
Jesus, thank you that
you know my weakness and sin, and love me anyway.
Thank you that though I
am weak, you have given me a new promise in your body and blood.
I place myself in
Christ today, choosing to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Keep me alert. Keep me
in your will. Keep me in your care. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
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