MERCIFUL
TEXT: And He [Jesus] came and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And again He went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer Him. And He came the third time and said to them, ‘:Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, My betrayer is at hand.” (Mark 14:37-42)
I can’t imagine what it was like for Jesus to find them all sleeping. How could they? He had been praying out loud-they heard His anguish. And still, they fell asleep? Especially Peter, who swore he would lay down his life for Jesus.
But He looks at their scared, ashamed faces, and His heart melts. And so He urges them to try again, and goes back to His own struggle.
And it happens again. And again. And the last time, still, Jesus has no hard words for them. He simply tells them to get up-for Judas and his soldiers are finally here.
It would have been lovely if they had been able to support Jesus in His time of need. But the way it turned out-well, isn’t it always like that? Jesus ends up carrying our burdens along with His own. In fact, His own burden is our burden-because the whole reason for His death and resurrection was to save us.
WE PRAY: Lord, You are always there for me. Thank You. Amen.
——————– Reflection Questions
• Where is Jesus finding the strength to deal with this?
• When your friends let you down, where do you find help?
• How can you forgive those who let you down?
Responses