Sleepers (Matthew 26:36-46)

Gethsemane, ?garden of the oil press?, lies across the Kidron Valley, somewhere between the city wall and Mount of Olives. Here went Jesus with his disciples after a very difficult and weary day. Something occupied their minds: the emotions of the supper, sensed, but very little understood, lay just beneath their thoughts. There was something which eluded their minds about their Master as he said to them, "Tarry here and watch with me". Wearied with grief and anxiety, they fell asleep under gnarled olive trees. The gap between Christ and his men had opened on the road to Jericho and became wider still under the moon in the garden. They slept.

Here was Christ alone left to watch; the agony in the garden; He was "sore amazed". What amazed the Son of God in this most dreadful hour? Was it the depth of human evil which surrounded him? Was it the depth of the abyss into which he knew he must step to achieve man?s salvation? Or was it the very pain of loneliness which grieved him? It overwhelms the heart.

Here was Christ, the only begotten Son of God, seeking, in the hour of fierce pain the hope and comfort of men.

God created man for Himself and for a purpose ? to glorify Him, and He desires man?s loyalty, fellowship and devotion at all times.

We, too, can grieve the Lord by failing to "watch" with him during the very busy preoccupation of our daily lives when his return is so near at hand.

Bro. George Nuwuanjeah (Mungenge, Cameroon)