'ABBA, FATHER'

Passage: Mark 14:27~42   

Keyverse: 36

1. Jesus predicts Peter's denial (27-31)

Jesus' prediction about his disciples to fall away was not just out of his assumption. He believed the word of God absolutely. As it was written he believed his disciples would fall away. But Peter trusted his willpower more than the word of God saying, "Even though all fall away, I would never." He also rejected Jesus' word of his denial three times. But Jesus gave hope of his resurrection. He would meet them in Galilee as he predicted.

2. "Yet not what I will but your will!" (32-42)

Jesus is the perfect God but also totally a human being. In his weak humanity, his soul was overwhelmed with great anguish to the point of death before his crucifixion. He asked God his Father, like a child with crying tears deeply distressed and troubled, "Abba, Father!" He prayed till his sweat became like blood dripping. He prayed that God might take away the cup of suffering. His persistent prayer was, "Yet not what I will but what you will!" He prayed three times till he won the victory, asking God not to change His will but to obey His will. Meanwhile, Jesus' disciples could not pray for even an hour because though their spirit was willing, their flesh was weak. Here Jesus showed through prayer that we can and must overcome temptation and win the victory before fighting.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your victory in prayer to submit yourself to God's will. Let me not sleep but pray even though my flesh is weak.

One Word: Pray until you submit to God's will!