Mark 14:32-42 <- Click to read now
This isn’t the first time the disciples slept at an inopportune time. They fell asleep at the Transfiguration, too. In this case, I have no doubt they were exhausted. They may have been tired from the day’s activities, the Passover meal may have induced a bit of fatigue (as large meals tend to do), and most certainly the evening’s conversation weighed heavy on their minds.
Have you ever been to the point you have so much on your mind, you just need to sleep? There’s a fine line between a person’s thoughts keeping them up at night and a person’s thoughts leading to exhaustion. I think these disciples found that line.
It’s not like they could have stopped this betrayal from happening if they had just been able to keep watch, but what they missed was an opportunity to lift Jesus in prayer while he was struggling with what was about to come. What they missed was just how much distress Jesus was in.
Other translations speak of agitation, being troubled, and anguish. Do we sense these feelings in the people or situations around us? Do we keep them in prayer? Part of the joy we have in Christ is to lift these situations in prayer. Whether it’s about another Christian or not, we know who has the power to make a difference in these feelings.
We may not think we can pray a situation away, but let’s remember, Jesus wasn’t asking these disciples to pray this would pass from him. He was asking them to join with him in praying for strength to endure. Jesus didn’t want this cup of suffering, but he knew he had to face it and he wanted God’s will to be first and foremost. Let’s pray the same for the many situations we know take place, where people are in anguish, yet God can settle their hearts and strengthen their souls.
Heavenly Father, there are so many situations in life we don’t want to face, and so many situations we don’t want others to face. Yet we know these difficulties are part of life, and we await the day Jesus comes back to make all things new. Until then, God, we pray for Your Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen all of us in our struggles. Help us to see the need for lifting prayer for those around us and help us to share our need for prayer when we are distressed, agitated, troubled, or in anguish. To Your glory we lift this up; to Your glory we trust Your presence and strength. Amen.