Spirit & flesh

Just moments earlier, Peter had made a promise to Jesus:

And as we said before…

I think Peter meant it.

He really did want to be faithful.

But now Jesus is praying in Gethsemane.

He returns to Peter, James, and John…

and finds them asleep.

Peter was prepared to die with Jesus.

At least...
in his mind.

But when the moment arrived…

he couldn’t stay awake with Him for an hour.

Then Jesus says something that might be one of the most accurate descriptions of the human condition anywhere in Scripture:

The spirit is willing.

But the flesh is weak.

And that’s where this becomes all too real for us.

Because we tend to put a lot of confidence in our intentions.

I would never lie.

I’d never abandon my faith.

I’d never betray someone I love.

I’d never become addicted to that.

I’d never compromise like they did.

And maybe we mean every word.

Peter did too.

But wanting to be faithful and possessing the strength to remain faithful through difficult circumstances aren’t the same thing.

Then, notice what Jesus tells them to do.

He doesn’t say:

“Try harder.

He says:

“Watch and pray.”

Jesus doesn’t just diagnose our weakness.

He tells us what to do about it.

Prayer begins with an admission Peter hadn't quite yet learned:

My willingness isn't enough.
I need God's strength.

Just hours earlier, he was certain he would die beside Jesus.

Now, he can't even stay awake at Jesus' side.

Perhaps that's why Jesus doesn't tell Peter to "be more confident."

He tells him:

“Watch and pray.”

Prayer recognizes something pride doesn't want to admit:

Apart from God, we're far weaker than we imagine.

So, when we watch someone else succumb to the wickedness around us,
maybe we shouldn't be so quick to ask:

How could they possibly do that?

Instead, maybe we should say:

“Lord, keep me close to You...
because apart from You, I will fall too.”

It isn't making an excuse for sin.

It's taking temptation seriously enough to recognize that
​good intentions won't defeat it.

And there's another interesting picture all the way back in Genesis that has really made me think about this constant battle...

After the Flood, Noah sends two different birds from the ark.

First, a raven:

Then, after we don't read of its return,
Noah sends a dove.

But the dove finds nowhere to rest...
so it returns to the ark.

Later Noah sends it again.

And upon its second return:

Now, Genesis doesn't tell us that the raven represents our flesh or that the dove represents the Spirit.

And we shouldn't turn an illustration into an interpretation.

But a number of Christians through the centuries have noticed something interesting about the picture...

The raven could've remained out among a world still covered by the remains of judgment.

But the dove “found no place to set her foot”...

so she returned to the ark.

And that detail becomes even more interesting when we consider the imagery Scripture later attaches to both birds.

The dove becomes one of Scripture's most recognizable pictures associated with the Spirit of God.

The raven, by contrast, would later be classified among Israel's unclean birds.

Now, Genesis never explicitly tells us,
​“The raven represents the flesh and the dove represents the Spirit.”

So I don't want to force this imagery into the passage.

But the symbolism is fascinating.

The raven can remain outside.

While the dove finds no place to rest...
​and returns to the refuge from which it came.

And isn't that remarkably similar to the battle Jesus is describing?

The flesh says:

I can stay out here.

I can handle this myself.

Yet, the spirit recognizes:

I need to return to my source.

It's exactly what's being described in Gethsemane.

Peter believes his devotion will carry him through the night.

So, Peter sleeps.

Jesus knows the battle that lies ahead.

So Jesus prays.

And when the pressure finally comes...

Peter will fall.

Jesus will remain faithful.

Perhaps the difference begins right here.

The spirit may be willing.

But willing people still need to return to their Source of strength.

Watch.

Pray.

Stay near to God.

Because sometimes the most spiritually mature thing we can admit is:

“I can’t do this on my own.”

And praise be to God...
​we were never asked to.

— Drew

P.S. Strong faith isn’t confidence that we’ll never stumble.

It’s learning to depend more deeply on the One who is strong when we aren’t.

That’s what I hope these resources help build—a faith grounded less in ourselves and increasingly in Christ.