The week had been full of finalities. As Thursday evening drew to a close Jesus went to the garden . . . and there he sat, a young man in a sweat-soaked garment – kneeling, imploring, agonizing over what was yet to come.
He figures out that those closest to him were asleep. I wonder, did he hear them snoring? Or did he just decide to go over to them to talk . . . regardless of “how” . . . he soon figured out that they were sleeping. He walks through the garden and implores, “PLEASE! Just stay awake with me . . .”
The Lord of the Universe doesn’t want to be alone.
I imagine the disciples were exhausted . . . it was a crazy week . . . and so many things they were having to process. He had just told them that he was going to die soon . . . and even though they were going to FEEL very alone, there would be an advocate with them. That had to make no sense at the time.
Their brains had to be full, their emotions on edge, gripped with sorrow at what Jesus had just told them.
So when they went to pray – they fell asleep. And they left Jesus alone.
Today . . . let us sit with that for awhile . . .
Jesus – the one who could do literally anything . . . could have anything . . . did not want to be alone. Yet there he was . . . alone.
So what did he do . . . he went inward through prayer and connected with the power and presence of God so that he was not alone.
Even though he agonized and prayed . . . “If there is ANY other way we could do this . . . maybe????” Yet the answer was “no.”
And instead of fighting or lamenting when they came to arrest him, he went. Because he knew he was not alone.
And neither are we. Regardless of what life circumstance comes – we are never, ever alone.
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”