seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Mark 14:32 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? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh 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 delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
So only three of the disciples were called to walk a little further. Judas was on his way to round up the priests to do the deed. The other eight were told to sit and wait and watch for the Roman Guard. That day, they secured a room, prepared a feast and listened to Jesus go on about how He was going to be turned over to the Romans. That evening they had their bellies full while Jesus went on about bread being bones, and wine being blood. Then they took a walk in the gentle night air, where they were told to sit, with bellies full of Passover, in the quiet night air in a garden. They were worn slam out. They were full to the brim. There was no ball game to keep them fired up. They fell asleep. Jesus woke them up... twice. They fell back to sleep twice. He woke them the last time, to the march of Roman troops approaching.
It seems to me that I would have gone to sleep too. After all, this talk about being turned over to the Romans would seem insane. Like my friend talking about suicide, Jesus kept on going about how He was going to the Cross. I'm sure they were very dismissive of the depression and anxiety He showed over this tired subject. Jesus was a healer. Everyone loved Him. He fed the tired and hungry. He healed the sick. Everywhere He went He drew large crowds. Jesus was really popular with everyone. All this talk about the Cross, and surviving it no less, was just insane.
If I were there, if Mark had been there, we would have seen Jesus' pleading "take this cup from Me, Father". We would have thought He was having a breakdown.
Meanwhile, Judas was about to collect his silver. He had to kiss Jesus on the cheek. A kiss, he hated to do it.... but Jesus thought He was so special, that nard would have made life so much easier for them. Jesus was so selfish... satan said so. Selfish isn't kingly.... satan said so.
Mark was not there. He is writing what he was told. He was not Simon Peter. He was not one of the Zebedee boys. He was not one of the other eight who were sleeping at the entrance. He was writing what he was told. Jesus told them to watch. They fell asleep. Jesus was really upset.
They fell asleep. Would you?
