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May 02, 2023 18:30pm

Will You Be Sleeping?

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Peace. Rest. Silence. Steady breathing with slow movements of the chest rising and falling.

Wailing begins and the new father is startled out of his slumber and dashes to the baby. The child cries out again and the father rushes to get a bottle.

As my husband tells the story, he makes sure to throw in just how exhausted he is. There had been many sleepless nights and at this point he was a walking zombie.

In those days, you heated water on the stove to warm the bottles of milk. So, he turned on the stove, placed the pot of water on top and dropped in the bottle. He sat down as he waited for it to warm.

What seemed like seconds later he awoke, startled once again, but this time to a huge mess, a smoke alarm going off, and the baby still crying!

He had fallen asleep!

“And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.” (Mark 14:32-40)

Jesus had taken the disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. He told them to sit while He prayed. Then He took Peter, James and John with Him a little further and told them to wait here and watch. He would go and would return soon.

But when He returned, He found them sleeping. He called Peter out and asked could he not even stay awake and watch one hour? So again He tells them to watch and pray until He returns.

And again, Jesus goes to pray and when He returns, He finds the disciples sleeping.

How could they sleep with all of this going on around them? They knew Jesus’s heart was heavy. They knew He had spoken of the betrayal, His death, His resurrection, and yet, these men fell asleep.

He had given them a mission until He returned, but they were found sleeping.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 18:18-20)

How will Jesus find you when He returns? He has given us a mission until He returns. We are to go and share the name of Jesus and teach them how to live for Him and how to do the same for others. This is discipleship.

Are you actively involved in the command God gave us?

Jesus is coming soon. Will He find you sleeping?