Napping at Gethsemene

And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he 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 for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? (Mark 14:32-37 ESV). Have you ever been so tired that you couldn’t stay awake? The disciples Jesus took with him to Gethsemene before his arrest were that tired. They just couldn’t stay awake, much less pray. That usually happens when we are under enormous stress. Have you ever felt that lonely? Have you ever felt as though your friends and family had abandoned you? Have you ever felt like you were so misunderstood that you had nowhere and no one to turn to? If so, then you have an idea of what the Jesus and his disciples went through as He agonized at Gethsemane. The sorrow He experienced in Gethsemane on the night before His crucifixion seemed to be the culmination of all the sorrow He had ever known and would accelerate to a climax the following day. The ultimate triumph that was to take place at Calvary was first accomplished beneath the gnarled old olive trees of Gethsemane. It is interesting that the very word Gethsemane means "olive press." Olives were pressed there to make oil, and truly, Jesus was being pressed from all sides that He might bring life to us. I don't think we can even begin to fathom what He was going through. But look at what it accomplished. It brought about our salvation. Because of what Jesus went through at Gethsemane and ultimately at the cross, we can call upon His name. Though it was an unfathomably painful, horrific transition, it was necessary for the ultimate goal of what was accomplished. Maybe you are at a crisis point in your life right now, a personal Gethsemane, if you will. You have your will; you know what you want. Yet you can sense that God's will is different. It is far easier to take a nap. Maybe things will be different later. Perhaps if you ignore the situation, it will simply go away. Possibly a change will take place that will alter all of the facts and events you are facing. It won’t. Not just napping. However, as you trust the will of God in your life you will find the strength and the way to walk. It wasn’t the nap that Jesus questioned of the disciples; it was the lack of trust expressed in the crisis. Trust Him. You will not regret making that decision.