The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak

Mark 14:38 (NASB)

“Keep watching and praying, that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus had brought His disciples to the garden of Gethsemane, then took His closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, to some other location in the garden where He demonstrated His humanity by admitting how distressed and troubled He was.  He then asked these three to keep watch while He went alone to pray and asked His Father that He not have to go through what was about to happen.  Imagine having this very troubled and grief-stricken mindset, bearing the weight of all sins of all mankind, then returning to where He had left His three closest friends on earth and there they were sleeping.  Jesus, in disbelief and probably frustrated, asked Peter if he was really asleep, and, if so, could he not keep watch for one hour?! (Mark 14:37).  Jesus then admonished His three disciples, telling them to keep watching and keep praying so that they not come into temptation.

What was He really saying to them?  He recognized that these weak men were unaware of what was going to happen even though He had told them.  He needed them to stand by Him and they instead gave into the weakness of the physical body and human nature—the flesh---and fell asleep.  Jesus closest friends were apathetic about the burdens of their Lord and the evil about to happen.  The word for temptation that Jesus used means “a trial of man’s fidelity, integrity, virtue, and constancy”.  To avoid such trials, they need to keep watching (e.g. read I Peter 5:8) and keep praying (Ephesians 6:18). 

The disciples intended to support their Lord in any way possible; in fact Peter had just boasted that he would never deny Jesus as his Lord (Mark 14:29).  Yet, while his spirit was willing, his flesh was weak as Jesus’ prediction about Peter denying Him came true.  Many people dream of accomplishing big things in their lives, yet the effort it takes requires too much work and discipline and those dreams are never achieved.  I publish a lot in my scientific profession and I’m always asking younger colleagues if they would like to write something with me.  They imagine the “glory” of seeing their names in print and quickly agree to write with me, but most never find the time nor discipline to complete the writing assignment.  The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.  We desire to live our lives as perfectly as possible and wish that we would never commit another sin, yet we fail.  We desire to stop whatever addiction we have (alcohol, drugs, sex, pornography, the job, materialism, etc.), yet we cannot.  We desire to discipline our lives to eat right, exercise, get plenty of sleep, yet we fail.  The spirit is willing, the flesh is weak.

So how do you overcome this idiom of the spirit being willing, but the flesh being weak?  Well, on one hand you cannot, because it is truth.  The spirit is always stronger than the flesh, our thoughts/desires/dreams will always be stronger than our actual physical capabilities.  It is important to realize this (“be on the alert”) and to confront it directly with discipline backed by obedience to the Word of God and to prayer.  With the Spirit of God strengthening you, you can overcome any weakness, but you must remain close to Him or you will fail.  When you develop a mindset—again through disciplined study, prayer, and obedience—to put the Spirit of God first in your life, you will overcome the weakness, the desires, and the limitations of the flesh.

What must you do to overcome the weaknesses of your life and to carry out the will of God for your life?  Remember: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).