Doing The Unthinkable

In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 14, the disciples are faced with the unthinkable: Turning their backs on their Lord. Jesus said that one would betray him, another would deny him and all would fall away. 

They were incredulous, Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same (v. 31).  And yet, Judas betrayed him, Peter denied him and all the others ran away when Jesus was arrested. 

What is especially interesting to me in this passage is that it wasn't just one or two that caved in and did what they never thought they would do, it was every single one of Jesus' disciples.

These are men who had left everything to follow him, who had walked by his side and witnessed his miracles and the quality of his life. These were men who saw the dead raised and the storm stilled. If these men could fall, what do you think the chances are of us doing the unthinkable?

Could we turn our backs on Jesus or on our spouses, whom we've pledged "until death do we part?"  Could we abandon the Lord or the children we brought into the world?  Could we deny our faith and take up a life of drugs, sexual abandon, greed, etc.?  It's not thinkable until it happens and then we tend not to not think about it. 

The thing is, Satan doesn't care what you've done, what promises you've made or how active you've been in ministry. What he concerns himself with is what he can tempt you to do and what you will succum to. He doesn't worry himself with your stellar past, he focuses on your stalled future.  "...the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Pet 5:8).  

The point is, don't let pride in good deeds allow you to dismiss Satan's determination to cause you to do the unthinkable. Instead, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation, for the spirit is willing but the body is weak" (Mt 26:41).   Jus' Sayn.