Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:13

I am extremely fortunate that I am one of those people who falls asleep quickly and easily. Once I lie down and close my eyes (and I have to lie down), I am typically asleep within minutes. My husband, however, is one of those people who can fall asleep sitting up but struggles to sleep through the night.

I wonder which of our sleep habits are most like the disciples who fell asleep in the garden of Gethsemane, in Matthew 26:37-46.

The scripture tells us that “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”.  

The magnitude of the weight of what was about to take place brought Jesus to a deep sorrow. So, He took Peter, James, and John with Him and asked them to keep watch, knowing that He was about to be betrayed.

³⁹ And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” ⁴⁰ And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 

Jesus is wrought with sorrow and asks His disciples to just keep watch. And, once He has prayed for a while, He comes back to find those who were supposed to keep watch for Him, sound asleep. He warns them to watch and to pray that they wouldn’t enter into temptation. None of us can prevent temptation, but we can prevent submitting to it and that is what Jesus is warning His disciples against.

Jesus then goes to pray some more. ⁴² Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 

But again, when He comes back, He finds them asleep. ⁴³ And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.”. 

Jesus goes off for a third time (and final time) to pray. ⁴⁴ So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.  When He comes back He tells them again that He is about to be betrayed. ⁴⁵ Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Jesus went away to pray and, three times, He came back to find His disciples asleep. He was about to be betrayed and sacrificed to pay the penalty for the sin of all mankind and all that He asked was that these three disciples stay awake and watch for Him, but they couldn’t do it.

Kind of interesting that these were the same three disciples who were “heavy with sleep” during the transfiguration.

Pretty easy to judge them from here, isn’t it?

There is an incredible caution in the sleep of these three disciples.

While our Savior was about to be betrayed and go to the cross, His disciples slept. They were unable to resist the temptation to be numbed into lethargy.

As the church waits upon our Savior’s return, if we do not remain watchful and resist the temptation that Jesus warns about, a large portion of us will also be unable to resist the temptation to be numbed into lethargy.

We must be alert. Our Savior is relying on us to serve Him and wait on His return.

Once Jesus arrives, there will be no opportunity for us to share Him with others. So, be on the alert, church, because God is providing opportunities for us to present our Savior to others every day. Resist temptation and stay awake! He is returning and wants to take as many of us with Him as possible. Tell everyone around you!

I pray that we would heed the warning presented in Matthew 26, resisting temptation. I also pray that we would be mindful of these passages and remain vigilant. Those who do not know Jesus need to see Him in us and hear what He has done in, for, and through us. Let’s be alert, resist temptation, and tell them!

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there.

Jesus endured so much just to have a relationship with you. He loves you so deeply. Please pray the prayer that you find on our page and once you have, reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com.

I would love to be in prayer for you.

Luv Ya!