43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. – Matthew 26:43
Sleeping Beauties
Few things in life touch our hearts like the face of a sleeping child. Especially if the child is yours. Whether it is a baby wrapped up in a crib or a toddler sprawled out for a nap on the couch, there is something about their “angelic” faces that just melt us.
Perhaps, as we look into their sleeping faces, we ponder their futures and the potential inside of them. With all of life before them and seemingly unlimited opportunities, who knows what they might do and become? Hopefully, they will clear the hurdles we never could!
Perhaps, as we look into their sleeping faces, we reflect on our own pasts. Certainly their youth, and energy, remind us that we are not getting any younger. Life passes so quickly and it only picks up speed as it does so. If only we could convince the young to take time to smell the flowers. Unfortunately, it is often a lesson learned too late!
Perhaps, as we look into their sleeping faces, we just let God tug on our heart strings with love. Love that melts and overflows our hearts. Love that transcends words and can only be expressed by the simple smile on our faces as we behold our “sleeping beauties” God has blessed us with.
Watchmen
As we looked at previously (http://helpmewithmyunbelief.com/2019/09/16/a-bitter-cup/), when Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His betrayal, He allowed His three most intimate disciples to enter with Him. Then, Jesus placed these three on watch (Matthew 26:38) as He went further into the Garden alone. During His time of greatest need, Jesus wanted His dearest friends to stay awake with Him. And pray.
Jesus did not ask His disciples to act as His sentries. He didn’t need any. Being omniscient, Jesus knew the danger that was approaching, and accordingly could never be taken off guard. Hence, Jesus’ concern was not that His disciples watch for outsiders, but rather the temptation that lies within. It is a truth we all must learn. Our greatest enemy isn’t without, but within.
As their eyelids are closing in sleep, danger is closing in. Judas is approaching with a kiss of betrayal on his lips and Jesus’ bitter enemies on his heels. Although intimidating in appearance with their torches and weapons, none of these were a threat to Jesus. In fact He was in the Garden to keep His divine appointment with them. However, Jesus was concerned about the threat they would present to His “watchmen”. It is a concern Jesus has always had for those He loves.
41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. – Matthew 26:41
Weak Flesh
Three disciples, three admonitions, three failures. Such was their night in the Garden. Like the other disciples, Peter, James and John were at the end of a long day and an emotionally charged week. Their emotions must have been threadbare after the events of the week which included the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the cleansing of the Temple, controversies with the religious leaders and finally the just celebrated Passover. It is no surprise they are exhausted. And Jesus knew the tempter would prey on their condition.
Before Jesus chose Peter, James and John to follow Him, Satan tempted Jesus to avoid the cup and follow him. Satan came to Jesus in the wilderness after Jesus had fasted for forty days. Satan thought he would find Jesus weak and vulnerable after such a fast. He hoped to prey on His weak flesh. But Jesus didn’t just fast for forty days. He prayed. Satan knows when we are most vulnerable. And so should we.
The night is late. Their flesh is weak. And Satan is lurking in the dark waiting to crush them. Yet, despite Jesus’ three warnings to be alert, His dearest friends would fall asleep three times.
For Jesus, the scent of the bitter cup is in the air. The Father is about to “crush” the Son. Jesus is in anguish as He anticipates the terrible wrath of God which He is about to endure. Why must He go through with this? Look no further than the faces of His sleeping friends. Sure they have failed Him, but His love has never been conditional. Knowing He will soon die for them, Jesus makes allowance for their failure.
The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – Matthew 26:41
Peter
Bold, defiant Peter couldn’t fend off sleep. Not on this night. He rashly told Christ he would go with Him even into death, but here he is during Jesus’ great hour of agony to date; sleeping.
Three short years prior, the ever confident Peter left his fishing boat to follow Christ. Little could he know where Christ would lead him. Jesus was going to shape him into a pillar of the church. But first Satan was going to sift him (Luke 22:31). Temptation was coming. Peter was sleeping. But Jesus was praying. Denial and abandonment were in Peter’s future, but Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail (Luke 22:32).
What passed through the tormented mind of Jesus as He beheld Peter’s face? Did Jesus shed a tear over Peter knowing what would unfold in the upcoming hours for His self confident disciple?
James & John
Next to Peter, asleep in the Garden, lie the Sons of Thunder, James and John. Known for their fiery temperaments they wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan village for it’s lack of “hospitality” (Luke 9:54). In their pride they wanted the seats of honor in Christ’s kingdom and claimed they could drink from His cup. However, Christ knew their flesh was weak and that their own “cup” was coming. As Jesus beheld the face of James, He saw His impending fate. Herod’s sword would soon make him a martyr.
And how was the heart of Jesus moved when He cast His gaze upon the face of His beloved disciple John? Did He see John faithfully standing at the foot of the cross? Perhaps He envisioned John taking care of His mother Mary in His absence. Although John would outlive the rest of the disciples, he would certainly face his share of temptations and trials, including being exiled to the island of Patmos in his old age.
A storm is quickly approaching, but Christ’s “children” are fast asleep.
No one but Christ could understand the magnitude of the wrath of God. No one but Christ could truly grasp the weakness of flesh of men. Only Jesus could love the weak flesh enough to submit to the will of the Father and drink the cup of wrath to the dregs.
More Sleepers
The Garden was a place of struggles. For the fatigued disciples it was a struggle between their willing spirits and their weak flesh. On this night, the weak flesh won out. For Jesus, it was a struggle over the cup. The time to drink from it had arrived and it’s contents were potent. More so than we could ever begin to comprehend.
In the Garden of Eden, we fell with Adam. In the Garden of Gethsemane, we failed with the disciples. Sleeping when we should be watching. But when Christ looks into our faces, He understands our weak flesh. In fact, He chose the cup and the cross not in spite of our weakness but because of it. Only Deity could endure the wrath of God.
On the Garden floor the blood of Jesus’ sweat is blending with the evening dew. As the gentle breeze stirs in the Garden the scent of the bitter cup wafts through the olive grove. In the darkness is shrouded an olive press reminding Jesus of His imminent death. In the faces of His dearest friends is a reflection of lost humanity and the motivation for His decision ( 1 Timothy 1:15).
Love & Death
On His face in the Garden, Jesus knew He had just two options; drink from the cup or let the cup pass. To drink from the cup meant to endure the Father’s wrath and to experience a “break” in fellowship with the Father as He turned His face away from the Sin Bearer. This was the true punishment that troubled Jesus.
To pass the cup meant leaving sinful man to drink from it and endure the awful wrath of God. Without the intervention of Christ, no man could be saved from God’s wrath. No one knows this better than Jesus. But even the terrible and imposing cup could not make Christ abandon us!
I have gone through great length to try to emphasize the magnitude of the awesome wrath of God for one reason; to illuminate the overwhelming love of Jesus. Faced with the choice of perishing under the Father’s wrath or allowing His “friends” to perish, Jesus chose the former. Certainly, His anguish was great. Under the weight of the “press”, it produced sweat of blood. But Jesus’ love was greater. For His sleeping, weak fleshed friends, He would go to the cross.
With a heart overflowing with love for His Father and His “children”, Jesus emptied the cup. Certainly, as we behold the faces of our sleeping children, our hearts are filled with a multitude of emotions. Thankfully, the most powerful is unconditional love.