37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. 40 And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. 41 Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. - Mark 14:37-41
It's easy for me to read these verses and get upset with Peter, James, and John. They had such a simple task; watch and pray with Jesus. Can you imagine? These three disciples were singled out by the Savior of the world to be His personal support group during His most trying time. They had the opportunity of a lifetime. No one else ever had this chance and no one else ever will. How do they respond? They sleep! Christ is in agony at this point. Can they not see His heavy heart? Can they not comprehend that He needs them at this moment? Not only once, but three times he finds the disciples asleep. They seem oblivious to the heart of the Master. They seem consumed by their physical desires. They seem to completely ignore the job that needs to be done and instead choose to be lazy and rest.
The moment I start fuming and calling these guys out is the very moment when I realize that I am sleeping right next to them. The Savior of the world has personally redeemed me to be His child. He has given me a life and chances that no one else has ever had and that no one else ever will. What am I doing with them? I cannot see my Lord's heavy heart. I do not love what He loves and hate what He hates. I do not have compassion and love for the lost like He has. I often do not comprehend that God needs me. I ignore the task at hand. I reason away my importance or decide that someone else will do it. I choose to sleep and fulfill my physical desires before doing my spiritual duty. I choose to be lazy and do what I want to do. I choose to fill a pew and rest, rather than run the race set before me. I choose to ignore the agony on my Savior's face as millions march on toward hell. I apathetically roll over and pull the covers up a little higher and keep on sleeping. I need to stop dreaming and start doing. I need to stop resting and start running. I need to stop sleeping and start slaving. The Lord's words cut deep.
"Could you not watch one hour?"
WOW!!! Thank you. Such a strong message, but such an honest and important one. I think of how often I have slept and remained apathetic. I pray that God continually awakens me to the plight of those who need Him, and that He continues to give me His heart.
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