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• JOURNAL 89

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• JOURNAL 88

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• JOURNAL 87

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• JOURNAL 86

  10 May, 2016

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• Today's "Moment with Mark" (95)

  24 February, 2013

  Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. "Simon!" he said to Peter. "Are you asleep? Couldn't you stay awake and watch with me even one hour?  (Mark 14:37-38  NLT)

  "Stand watch". That's pretty much what Jesus asked of these three disciples. To be with Him, to be a supportive presence. My mind drifts back to that Old Testament episode when Moses prayed for the battle in the valley below and Aaron and Hur supported his arms as he engaged in fervent intercession. But in this case the supporters had fallen asleep.

  What catches me by surprise is that Jesus addresses Peter by his old name, Simon. I wonder why that is? I want to bring Luke's account of these events in to focus at this point;

  "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat.  But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers."  (Luke 22:31-32 NLT)

  Again Jesus is recorded here as addressing Peter by his former name, Simon. Is Jesus warning Peter that the "old" ever waits to reclaim its place in one's life. Let your guard down - like "sleeping on the job"- and the enemy will infiltrate your perimeters like a thief in the night and neutralise your defences.

  Again, from Luke (not Mark this time) we hear Jesus acknowledge that Satan is active and is seeking permission to have access to all the disciples including Simon. His stated purpose is to sift the disciples like wheat. The immediate context, then, is one of spiritual warfare.