Mark 14:32-42

Mark 14:32-42

1. Let us mark how keenly our Lord felt the burden of a world's sin.
2. Let us mark what an example our Lord gives us of the importance of prayer in time of trouble.
3. Let us mark what a striking example our Lord gives us of submission of will, to the will of God.
4. Let us mark how much infirmity may be found even in the best Christians.

"We ought to see in our Lord's agony in Gethsemane the exceeding sinfulness of sin. It is a subject on which the thoughts of professing Christians are far below what they should be."

"The first person to whom we should turn in our trouble is God. The first expression of grief we should make, should be in the form of a prayer."

"To take patiently whatever God sends--to like nothing but what God likes--to wish nothing but what God approves--to prefer pain, if it pleases God to send it; to forego ease, if God does not think fit to bestow it--to lie passive under God's hand, and know no will but His--this is the highest standard at which we can aim, and of this our Lord's conduct in Gethsemane is a perfect pattern."

"We must pray as well as watch, and watch as well as pray. Watching without praying is self-confidence and self-conceit. Praying without watching is enthusiasm and fanaticism. The man who knows his own weakness, and knowing it both watches and prays, is the man that will be held up and not allowed to fall."

Questions:

1. Beloved brother or sister, do we take sin lightly in our own hearts or when we hear the talk of others? Would we pray that God would impress upon us the exceeding sinfulness of sin?

2. What is our first response when we are afflicted or faced with difficulty? How quick are we to pray and bring our burdens to God?

3. Does our experience not agree with Ryle’s statement: ‘nothing brings us so much misery as getting our own way?’ Do we see this clearest of evidences of God’s grace in submitting our will to the will of the Father?

4. Are we aware of the areas in which we are prone to stumble? If so, what are they? Are we watchful and prayerful over those areas? If we stumble over those areas often, could it be proof we are missing at least one of these commands of our Lord?