THEY SLEPT – THEY MISSED IT

GETHSEMANE – MATTHEW 26:36-46

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.  “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.  “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.  So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting?  Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.  Rise!  Let us go!  Here comes my betrayer!”

Jesus did not ask much of the disciples as they entered Gethsemane.  All he wanted was for them to sit and keep watch.  As Jesus was overcome with sorrow, they fell asleep.

How alone Jesus must have felt.  He had asked his most trusted disciples to be there for him, to comfort him, to pray with him.  The disciples slept.  They missed the opportunity to keep watch with Jesus.

How quiet it must have been as Jesus prayed.  The only sound breaking through the darkness was his voice.  Did he pray in a whisper?  Did he put special emphasis on the words My Father?  The disciples slept.  They missed the Son praying to His Father.

Jesus fell to the ground and prayed to His Father.  Jesus asked for the cup to be taken and then said may your will be done.  Three times Jesus prayed.  Three times Jesus freely agreed to do the will of his Father.  The disciples slept.  They missed Jesus submitting to the will of His Father.

And then it was no longer quiet.  The hour had come.  The betrayer was there.  The disciples woke up.

The disciples slept

Jesus prayed

May your will be done

Jesus was arrested