1 QUOTE

“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried."

- G. K. Chesterton

1 NOTE

I was recently on a Zoom call with the Lausanne Movement Young Leaders Gathering. The movement is praying, planning and preparing for a big conference for young leaders in Sao Paolo, Brazil in early 2027. As I listened to young leaders from all over the world, I would saddened (but not surprised) at a common phrase that repeated itself. Our facilitator from Croatia, and leaders from Nairobi, Frankfurt, Seoul and Nashville all said the same thing. The global church must address ‘crisis in character’ in disciples and leaders.

On the night before his death, Jesus takes the 3 disciples from his mentoring circle to the special prayer spot. At Gethsemane, Jesus tells Peter, James and John to watch and pray (Mark 14:38). Some believe that Jesus was asking the disciples to pray for him. But that is not what the text reveals. Jesus, even hours away from his suffering and murder, was teaching and training his leaders. They needed to watch, and learn, and put into action what Jesus was praying and modeling. Jesus did not want to die. We don’t want to die. But Jesus obeyed the will of the Father. For many of us, we don’t obey the will of the Father. Those do God’s will are his family (Mark 3:35). Being selective about obeying God’s will leads to a global ‘crisis in character.’

Jesus was teaching the disciples in the Garden, and I believe us today, ‘The Spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak’ (Mark 14:38). Two insights on this epic truth. The first is that the Bible editors do us no theological favors when they interpret Spirit as human spirit. This is why the word spirit is not capitalized in most translations. But the word Spirit (the Greek word pneuma) is repeated six times in Mark and each time refers to the Holy Spirit. The editor’s human centric bias emerges as he pits human spirit against human flesh. The battle is never us versus our will. The battle is always God against our will. The Holy Spirit, perfect and strong in every way, declares war on our flesh.

The second insight is that the word weak (Greek word asthenes) can also be defined as infirmed and sick. The Holy Spirit is willing but the flesh is sick. Who can heal sick flesh? Jesus declares himself the Good Doctor (Mark 2:17) and invites us to follow him so that we will be made well.

Do we have a crisis of character in the global church today? Absolutely! How will be grow stronger in character? The answer is certainly not more of us and our spirit. This is why we are in this mess! I believe the answer is found in Gethsemane. Our flesh is weak and sick, but the Holy Spirit is healthy and strong. With God all things are possible, even over-riding our sickness to help us obey God!

1 QUESTION

Is there an issue in your life where you find yourself weak and sick? The Holy Spirit is willing, and full of power, to help you obey the will of God.

Until Next Tuesday,

John