Luke 22:39-53 Exposing and Destroying Our Fleshly Instincts
Luke 22:39-53
39 And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. 40 When He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. 45 When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 46 and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
47 While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered and said, “ Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? 53 While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.”
Background
Before proceeding to the Mount of Olives, Jesus teaches the disciples concerning the fleshly instincts that cause them to play into the devil’s temptations. While waiting for the hour of His arrest, He urges the disciples to be alert in prayer so that they may not fall into temptation. Today’s passage teaches us about our fleshly instincts and how we could expose and destroy them.
Observation
Pray that you may not enter into temptation – When Jesus asks His disciples to pray, one wonders what He is asking them to pray about? We know Jesus withdraws from them a short distance and prays, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from me…” which pretty much sums up Jesus’ prayer agenda. Jesus uses prayer to battle His fleshly instincts and enables Him to stay sharp and submit to the Father’s will: yet not My will, but Yours be done. This cup refers to the blood sacrifice that He is about to make on the cross that seals the New Covenant. Jesus has the legitimate choice to detract from the suffering of the cross and to rein as a deliverer possessing supernatural powers very much in the same league as Moses, David and Elijah. Or to submit to the Father’s will by dying a painful and shameful death on the cross. The first path allows Him to vent His vengeance on Judas and a band of corrupted Jews and in the same breathe elevate His loyalists to positions of influence. The second path holds no certainty of that, only the promise of the Spirit to be poured out on all believers. Jesus’ struggle against temptation at Mount of Olives is unprecedented, so much so He requires angelic assistance. The intensity of Jesus’ struggle to obey the Father’s will expresses itself in His perspiration where His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.
Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation – Jesus rises from His prayer and comes to His disciples finding them in a state of sorrow and despair. He chides them to persevere in prayer and not to be overcome by their fleshly instincts. What does Jesus mean when he says, “pray that you may not enter into temptation”? Prayer is a process of staying sharp in the Spirit and not be moved by circumstances. Before Jesus proceeds to Mount of Olives, He teaches the disciples concerning the following fleshly instincts that can detract the believer from his calling (see Luke 22:24-38):
- Self-centeredness. The disciples are disputing among themselves as to who is the greatest. Self-centeredness robs them of the vision of the kingdom.
- Complacency. Peter boasts that he would follow Jesus all the way and even unto death. Complacency cuts off divine grace that is able to empower.
- Fear. The disciples will be scattered when Jesus goes to the cross, as He will no longer be present to protect them.
In dire circumstances, Jesus teaches His disciples not to be self-centered, complacent, or fearful but to pray without ceasing.
Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? – The devil enters Judas and becomes one with him. The hypocrisy of the devil is revealed in the way Jesus is being identified and arrested: with a kiss.
But this hour and the power of darkness are yours – The devil cannot freely do what he wants, as he must necessarily be subjected to the universal authority of God. Here, a window is given to the powers of darkness where Jesus will be delivered over to the devil.
Truth
By staying sharp in the Spirit, we keep ourselves from being deceived by the devil’s temptations. What are the fleshly instincts that make us vulnerable to the temptations of the devil? It is when we harbor an air of complacency that lowers our guard against the attacks of the devil; it is when we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed and petrified by our circumstances; it is when we become self-serving and self-centered in our motives. Prayer sharpens our spirit to destroy the fleshly instincts of fear, complacency, and self-centeredness. Prayer is the process that fills us with the Spirit so that we could turn complacency into faith, fear into boldness, and self-centeredness into godliness. We persevere by praying in tongues and with understanding until that process is complete.
Jesus urges His disciples to stay sharp in the Spirit and not to let fear, complacency and self-centeredness weaken their resolve to do the Father’s will. Jesus teaches,
“Therefore, be on the alert —for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning —in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all, ‘ Be on the alert!’” Mark 13:35-37
What is it like to be asleep? It is when we allow fleshly instincts to operate unhindered in our soul. Be on the alert means being aware of the workings of these fleshly instincts so that we could expose and destroy them by subjecting our heart and mind to the truth. Be on the alert means being discipline in keeping our daily devotion and prayers.
Applications
- If you are often given to fear, pray the following:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that you are in control all the time and there is nothing in this world that can separate me from your love. I declare that fear has no dominance over me. I arise in the Spirit of boldness to overcome the powers that hinder me from doing your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
- If you are given to complacency, pray the following:
Dear Lord, I confess that I do not know the way to victory. I am deceived thinking that I can do it alone. Forgive me for my foolishness as I humble myself to seek your face. As you reject the proud and give grace to the humble, anoint me with your Spirit so that I can do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
- If you are given to selfish agendas, pray the following:
Dear Lord, I confess that I harbor self-serving ambitions that seek to be trump over others. Forgive me of my selfish ways and give me a heart of servitude. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.