Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
By Mike Chaffin
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Matthew 26:40
Jesus asked some really probing questions during His earthly ministry. For me this is the most penetrating. It goes to the core of our commitment to Christ.
All sorts of excuses could be made for Peter, James, and John who have gone deep into the garden with Jesus to watch with Him while He prayed. They just ate the Passover supper. It was late. They were tired and didn’t understand the importance of the hour. Jesus is about to be betrayed!
These three were His inner core, leaders, and witnesses of the transfiguration. They had beheld His glory. Yet, they couldn’t watch and pray for an hour. The text doesn’t say how long they held out, watching and praying, before falling asleep, but we can assume it wasn’t long.
Jesus wanted them to be a support in His prayer for help through the upcoming ordeal. Their prayers would have helped them too. Jesus, waking them up, told them before going back into prayer,
41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mathew 26:41
Truer words have not been spoken. We enter temptation daily. If we are in communion with God we can resist, or flee, as the case requires. However, when we are tired, and feeling the need to feed the flesh, we are weak. We should be watchful and prayed up. But we aren’t and we give in.
God knows our flesh is weak. One of the greatest promises about our ability to lean on Him in these times is in Isaiah,
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:30-31
Jesus was cognizant of our fleshly weakness when He beckoned all to come to Him in Matthew,
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30
Talking to God is not a burden. It is easy. But we too often forget or feel as if we are too busy to refresh in God’s presence through prayer. Paul exhorted us to pray without ceasing,
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
There is no trick in doing this. It is an attitude of constant communication and thanksgiving to God. Think of this as a trickle charger for your soul which in turn, keeps your flesh well and in check.
Contemplation: Do I often use the excuse of being too tired to pray?
