Matthew Starner

Mark 14:32-42
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

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? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

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. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

After the Passover meal, Jesus heads with his disciples to Gethsemane, a favorite prayer spot of his. He goes off to pray and leaves his followers with a simple command: stay and watch. It seems like a no-brainer, but the hour is late and the disciples are tired.

How many times have I let the world wear me out so that I can’t “stay awake” and watch out for the temptations around me? He’s asked all of us to stay awak for a while and keep watch so we don’t fall into temptation, but that can’t happen if we let outselves be worn and weary.