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No one has enough strength to resist all temptation. That is why we must follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. During the Passover feast, He was keenly aware that suffering lay just ahead—including being separated from His Father. We read in Mark chapter 14 that on His way to the Garden, Jesus told His disciples, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.’ … Peter said to him, ‘Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.’ Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, Peter – this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.’ ‘No!’ Peter declared emphatically. ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!’” But later, while Jesus was being beaten in the palace of the High Priest, Peter denied three times that he knew Jesus. The last time he said, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” Knowing how weak we are to resist temptation, Jesus previously told his disciples: “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.” What Jesus told His disciples to do is what He did—He prayed. And that is what we should do today–keep alert to temptation and pray for strength to resist it.
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