Beach Reach Devotional | Tuesday
Read Mark 14:32-42
You made it to day 3 of Beach Reach! Can you believe we're already halfway done? By now you’ve probably gotten into the groove of things. The initial anxiety around talking to strangers has worn off; you’ve gotten closer to your van members; you’ve eaten delicious dinners at the conference center; and you’ve probably had a couple bizarre conversations you never thought you'd have. You likely got up this morning having a plan in your mind of what the day would look like, and Beach Reach is starting to become the new normal.
As I was reading through the gospel of Mark last weekend, this passage stood out to me in light of Beach Reach. Many of you are probably familiar with this passage. This takes place Thursday night, the night before Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus takes his disciples to the garden of Gethsemane and we see Him pour out His heart before the Father as He looks forward in dread to what He’s going to be experiencing tomorrow. Jesus is going to be betrayed, mocked, beaten, killed, and abandoned by those closest to Him. He is feeling the weight of that, yet is still willing to surrender to God’s will. Normally when I read this passage, that’s what I focus on, but this time I want us to be directed towards Jesus’ instructions to the disciples.
Before He goes off to pray, Jesus tells them to remain there and watch (v. 34). He comes back to find them asleep and says 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.”
He then goes off to pray twice more, and both times he still returns to find them sleeping! As someone who loves their sleep, I can relate to the disciples here. Even during ATX Rides I was struggling to stay awake and pray. As the week goes on, you may be more tired during the day and tempted towards sleep, so there is an aspect of this passage that exhorts us to stay awake and be willing to sacrifice sleep in our service of Jesus.
More than that though, this passage can be a reminder for us to be spiritually awake. The most important event in human history was about to happen, and Jesus seemingly wanted the disciples to be actively praying alongside Him, as he goes to accomplish His mission to save sinners through His death on the cross. We’re being given the same opportunity this week.
Right now, Jesus is being dishonored by the sin around us, but God is doing transformational work in the hearts of people on the island, and He has invited you to play a part alongside Him in that. You can’t save people, but He can (Matthew 19:26). So let’s pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) for God to work. In my experience, as Beach Reach becomes more normal, you are more likely to get into a routine that leads to being less prayerful and less aware of how God is working around you. Thankfully, Jesus gives us the answer in his conversation with Peter in verse 38. He reminds us to be reliant on the Spirit which is strong, and not our own flesh which is weak. Let’s ask the Spirit to be waking us up to the reality of sin and the need people have for Jesus.
In light of this, take some time to reflect on these questions:
Where have you seen God do things in your own life and in others this week? Meditate on this and praise Him. (Psalm 77:12)
What are sins in your own life that have been distracting you from Jesus? Take time to confess these to the Lord and trust in the good news of His forgiveness. (1 John 1:9)
Where are you tempted to trust in yourself and not in the Spirit? Pray that you would trust in God and not man. (Jeremiah 17:5-8)