Dear Family and Friends,

The Easter decorations, Easter bunny, oversized eggs, and fake spring flowers are back in full force at the malls.

To guard our hearts from these false representations, let’s spend our time reading through a true story from the week leading up to Easter Sunday.

Our story begins as Jesus wraps up His Farewell Discourse with these encouraging words to his disciples.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33 NIV

But as He and His disciples cross the Kidron Valley, we begin to see a very different Jesus.

Jesus showed little emotion throughout much of His ministry, but here at Gethsemane…which ironically means a place to press oil, we witness the humanity of Jesus.

“They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”  Mark 14:32-36 NIV

What was in the cup?

What was to come.

Jesus knew He would be despised and rejected by His own people. Flogged, mocked, scorned and nailed to a cross by the Roman soldiers.

We know there can be pain much worst than physical pain.

Consider for a moment His spiritual pain from the sins of the world.

And His emotional pain from being separated from the Father.

On our trip to the Holy Land we walked the Via Dolorosa, the path of the cross. The path is marked with the location of certain events from that Friday.

To walk where Jesus walked while remembering what He experienced was painful.

We stood where Jesus was condemned by Pilate. And walked where He was handed the cross.

Where Jesus first fell under the weight of the cross.

Where the Roman soldiers forced Simon the Cyrene to help Him.

And where Jesus weakened by beatings fell twice more…

This and much more was in the cup Jesus asked His Father to take from Him.

And now in the Garden, when Jesus was at His weakest and in desperate need of His friends, they slept…

“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?

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Mark 14:37-38 NIV

Many feel the disciples were emotionally exhausted. But consider what Jesus said before they left for the Garden.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.”  Luke 22:31 NIV

Perhaps the disciples were not exhausted from the emotional evening.

But slept… because they were under attack.

Let’s return to the Garden.

“Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

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.

Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Mark 14:39-42 NIV

Jesus fought against the temptations of satan. And He won!

He overcame by doing what He asked His disciples to do – Jesus kept watch for satan and his tricks, and prayed to the Father.

This is the lesson Jesus tried to teach his disciples.

And this is the lesson He wants us to learn today.

My friends, we are under attack. Satan is sifting us, hoping that many will fall away and eventually abandon their faith in Jesus.

The unfortunate truth is the pandemic disrupted our walk with Jesus.

And once separated from each other, Satan began whispering lies to us.

Lies like: You’re saved. You don’t have to go to church, read the Bible, or obey Jesus.

Plus you get your Sunday back. You have much more important priorities now, and a new routine.

We became sleepy, just like the disciples.

And many slept. Their walk with Jesus came to a grinding halt.

Many are still sleeping today – struggling with apathy, a lack of interest, enthusiasm or concern about their faith in Jesus.

With Easter quickly approaching, there is no better time than right now to keep watch for satan’s temptations and pray to our Lord for protection.

If you feel your faith walk is in sleep mode, pray for help as Jesus did.

Jesus overcame satan with God’s help.

So can we.

In love always,