Do you think that Peter, James and John would like a do-over? Just another night with Jesus after a day of accolades, feasting, unimaginable wisdom being conveyed and inconceivable miracles occurring. Just another night of exhaustion after a day of impact. Another night of deserved rest and Jesus honoring these three pillars of Christianity by saying “sit here while I go over there and pray.”
“Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Matthew 26:36-41 NLT
In Pete, Jim and John’s defense, they were invested. They were committed. They had left all that the World said mattered, job, home, family, security to follow Jesus. Isn’t security an interesting and oftentimes misleading word. Any “reasonable” person would say they were justified in their exhaustion and sleep because of the hard day’s work they had just completed.
“Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.” Matthew 26:42-43 NLT
The momentousness of the event escaped the three guardians of Jesus, as I am sure they saw themselves. Willing to forsake all the things that the World placed value. Willing to cut off a man’s ear. Proclaiming with absolute sincerity that “I will never deny you,” then doing exactly that in the seminal moment of eternity. Jesus told them three times what was to come (Mark 8:31-33; Mark 9:30-32; Mark 10:32-34)…yet their ears did not hear.
“So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!” Matthew 26:44-46
It would be very easy to say “Pete, Jim, John, you blew it.” In fact, the World rushes to say “your name here, you blew it!” Understand that Jesus knew exactly what would happen in that garden with the three human men that he chose to go with him. He knew they would sleep. He knew they would fail in the moment. He knew, as with every event in his ministry, that the failing would lead to teaching and learning moments. He knew theses three who seemingly failed so miserably in the moment, would take away from this an intensity to share the Gospel all the way to their deaths for the life of the Church. His Church. Christianity.
Our Father mourns when we label our stumbles as falls. He desires that we live full, more meaningful and impactful lives from the learning, too often defined as failure. Experience is one of God’s greatest gifts if used to guide, direct and instill hope in others. We cannot properly reflect the hope and life of Christ when mired in the lies of past failings, aka stumbles. God knows every step you will take and He has plans to marvelously use every failing you have made for His good. Wake up, the ‘betrayer’ is all around us spewing lies and hopelessness to a broken and desperate World. But Sunday is coming, when darkness was forever defeated.
“I wait quietly before God,
for my victory comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will never be shaken.“
I wait quietly before God,
for my victory comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will never be shaken.
So many enemies against one man—
all of them trying to kill me.
To them I’m just a broken-down wall
or a tottering fence.
They plan to topple me from my high position.
They delight in telling lies about me.
They praise me to my face
but curse me in their hearts.
Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge.
Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind,
and the powerful are not what they appear to be.
If you weigh them on the scales,
together they are lighter than a breath of air.
Don’t make your living by extortion
or put your hope in stealing.
And if your wealth increases,
don’t make it the center of your life.
God has spoken plainly,
and I have heard it many times:
Power, O God, belongs to you;
unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.
Surely you repay all people
according to what they have done.” Psalm 62 NLT