18 February 2005 To sleep or not to sleep

18 February 2005 To sleep or not to sleep?

Jesus laid the example of when and when not to sleep. In the midst of the raging storm, the wind was moving the boat violently and in the boat being tossed back and forth were 13 men, one who slept.

Matthew 8:23-24:

    ²³Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. ²⁴Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.

Mark 4:36-40:
³⁶Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

    ³⁹He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

    ⁴⁰He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

The One who knew that now was the time to be resting and 12 who didn’t. The waves that washed over them was one of fear, it kept them physically being able to rejuvenate themselves for the multitudes that was seeking after the Lord. At the Lord’s command the sea calmed itself , in order for these men to slumber. From great fear to quiet rest.

On the flip side, Jesus called what I believe to be not just His favorites but His three greatest prayer warriors to accompany Him to the garden of Gethsemane. There He insisted, Peter, James and John be alert and prayerful. All that His life meant was coming to it’s final chapter and in those moments, He enlisted the prayerful encouragement of His best buds.

Jesus found them asleep. He woke them up only, only to be severely disappointed that none would tarry with him. He gave them multiple opportunities only to find the same result.

Matthew 26:36-45

    ³⁶Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." ³⁷He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."

    ³⁹Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

    ⁴⁰Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. ⁴¹"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

    ⁴²He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

    ⁴³When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

    ⁴⁵Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

These three went from a powerful dinner with their Lord, where He reveals the future and shares communion with each, to finding the 3 awakened by Judas and roman guards escorting Him away to begin the severe task of the loss of His life.

As in the boat on the water fear captured them and they fled.

I have often said “I’ll pray for you” and have heard many through the years unenthusiastically say the same. My sadness overwhelms me when I recall my 2 second arrow shot upwards prayer, “God bless them, you know their need,” when what may have been required was serious intercession. I’m not sure how many blessings I have missed because of the glib, perfunctory prayer.

I needed a heart correction; prayer is never common as my God is not common. It is not boring or a routine or something anyone should take lightly, for even though we approach the throne of mercy and grace with great confidence as an heir of salvation, He is still and always will be a Holy God, communication at any level that I’m on, is irrelevant when talking to my Holy Father.

I have fallen asleep on the job and even as the apostles may have been filled with regret, but strengthened to pray more fervently, I step back and first recognize to Whom I’m having a conversation with and then I ask Him for His will in the situation. I ask Him to stir my heart that acknowledges that the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective. I chose to be the one who will pray and violently advance the kingdom on my knees and not on my pillow.