Are You Asleep?

(Today's reading - Deut 20-22; Mark 14:26-50)

Today we find Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. If you have spent time in the scriptures, you know what is going on; if not, read Mark 14. After sharing His "last supper" with His disciples, he leads them out into the garden to spend time in prayer. He knows what is about to happen and He wants (needs) to spend time with His Father. Without a doubt, His humanity is showing during this time. Fear... I think so. How would you feel? Think about it... if you knew for certain that you are about to be beaten, abused and murdered in the most hideous way... how would you be feel?

When they arrive in the garden, He leaves everyone except Peter, John and James. The four of them go further into the garden and He askes them to watch and wait while He prays. Simple enough, He is going over there to pray and they are to wait and watch. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” (v 34) They had been with Him for three years. Listened to His teaching. Seen His miracles. Watched Him love others. And now, they were asked to sit for a while and keep watch while He prayed.

He returns to them three times during His prayers and each time finds them asleep. He knows what is about to happen and His friends are sleeping. He has told them what is going to happen, and they are asleep. Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (vv 37-38) They knew He had gone away and He had asked them to wait and watch, yet they fell asleep in His absence.

He is gone,they are asleep. He is gone... they are asleep. Wait and watch... asleep. What were they thinking? I am so thankful that I would never do anything like that! Or would I? Is it possible that I (and maybe you) have fallen asleep while He is away? He tells them to watch and pray... why? So that they will not fall into temptation. He tells them (and us) that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. He knew (and knows) that when we are away from Him, we face the greatest temptation. He knows that even though our spirits might want to be strong, our human condition is weak. So, He says... "Watch and Pray".

We are to be constantly aware of His possible return. We are to be constant in prayer for ourselves and others. We are to live in constant expectation of the clouds being parted and the trumpet being blown. Do I live like that? You? Are my actions different that those around me? What would He find me doing if He returned today? Waiting and watching and praying? What about you? If I knew He was coming back today at 5 PM, what would I do with the afternoon? Who would I call? What would I say?

Are you asleep? Has He been gone so long that you have forgotten that He is coming back? I can hear Him say, Dale, "are you asleep? Couldn't you keep watch for one hour?". May we live in the moment, expecting His return, watching and praying. Consider what you would do with the last day on planet earth and live that way. Who knows, this might just be the last hour before He comes to take us home. Who is the one person that you don't want to leave behind? Call them now!!