Mark 14:32-42 (ESV)
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? 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.”
A Devotional Meditation on St. Mark's Passion Narrative
Before he goes off to pray in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus gives Peter, James, and John the command to “remain here and watch.” In one sense, this command is easy to understand. Jesus is commanding this three most intimate friends to keep awake. To stand guard. To have his back, so to speak--if and when trouble should arrive.
It is a simple command. And yet, it turns out also to be an impossible command. Not once, not twice, but three times Jesus returns to his friends only to find that they have failed in their task. They were not able to keep themselves from falling asleep. Three times they have let Jesus down.
This is not the first time that a man was commanded to keep watch over a garden and failed at the task. Adam was given the charge to “tend” and “keep” (guard) the Paradise called Eden. Yet, what did he do? He fell asleep on the job. He heard God’s Word and did not obey. He failed. And as a result, the sleep of death has ever since claimed all of Adam’s race. Try as we might, in our natural condition, we descendants of Adam cannot hear the Word of God and obey. We cannot stay awake.
That’s why Jesus--the Son of Man--also comes as the second Adam. The man who hears his Father’s Word in the garden and responds with “not my will, but your will be done.” The man who comes upon his sleeping friends--the friends who have failed him--and says to them: “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?...Rise, let us be going.”
Where is this second Adam going? To the cross. He is going there in the place of all who have fallen asleep like the first Adam. He is going there to defeat the enemy that the first Adam failed to guard against. He is going there to restore the Paradise that the first Adam lost. He is going there for his sleeping disciples. And he is going there for you. So that one day, when your strength fails and sleep overtakes you, Jesus can come to you and say, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?...Rise, my friend and let us be going into the kingdom which I have prepared for you.”
Image Description (AI Prompt)
A poignant and atmospheric depiction of a death bed scene, focusing on the universal and timeless moment of passing. The setting is a dimly lit room that exudes a sense of tranquility and solemnity. At the center, a figure lies on the bed, surrounded by loved ones who are gathered in a state of quiet reflection and emotional farewell. The expressions on their faces convey a mix of sorrow, love, and a deep sense of loss. The room is sparsely furnished, emphasizing the focus on the human connection and the emotional gravity of the moment. The lighting casts soft shadows, adding to the intimate and serene atmosphere, inviting viewers to reflect on the themes of life, death, and the bonds that tie us together.