Church Update
April 1, 2025
Dear Church of the Open Bible,
Have you ever felt betrayed by your flesh? As a pastor, often the only time that works to meet with some guys is well before the crack of dawn. And while I’m happy to do that, I don’t know if there’s a worse feeling than sleeping through a scheduled early morning meeting. There are feelings of embarrassment and disappointment, but the deeper realizations are my own weakness and failure. I think the disciples must have experienced these emotions during a long night in a garden, years ago.
And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. - Mark 14:37-40
These are the darkest hours of Jesus’ life, and the darkest of their own, and the disciples fall asleep three times. They fail. They can’t stay alert. They aren’t faithful. Why? Because they are weak. They were depending on themselves, their own flesh.
As we prepare to celebrate Good Friday and Easter Sunday, begin by acknowledging your own weakness and lack of faithfulness. Consider the empty bravado of the disciples before Christ’s arrest (Mark 14:29-31).
And then look at Jesus. He remains alert, faithful. Even in His prayer to the Father, He denies Himself and chooses the will of the Father. That is who He places His confidence in, and as such, His strength is not in the flesh but in the spirit. During the most agonizing moment of Jesus’ life, as He anticipates the torture of being made sin for all humanity, Jesus is found in prayer. (Mark 14:34-36).
May we take our weakness to the Lord, depending on His strength and celebrating His faithfulness.
In Christ,
Pastor Jeremy