And he
said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake."
This is Good Friday. As Jesus hangs on the cross, he surely recalls
the events of the night in the Garden of Gethsemane. "Sit here while I pray,"
Jesus said to them. "I am grieved even to death; remain here, and keep awake."
But three times he came and always found them sleeping. "Could you not keep awake one
hour?"
Their eyes were heavy; they did not know what to say, so they said
nothing. They did not get it. It went right over their heads. The situation was serious,
but they still didn’t get it.
How could they sleep? Could you sleep at a time like this? How could
they miss what was really going on, not awake to Jesus’ feelings, his distress, his
discomfort? Why did they think he was praying so long and so hard?
No wonder they ran away later. No wonder they were not at the foot of
the cross. They were asleep when they should have been awake. And Peter denied him, not
once but three times. They all fled, deserting Jesus instead of being there for him, their
leader and friend. At the very time Jesus needed them most – to stay awake, to be
there for him – at that very moment, they were asleep.
And now, as we recall this story, where are we? Where is our loyalty?
Do we, too, run away just when we’re needed most? When our families, our friends, our
neighbors need us, are we awake to their cries? When the crosses they carry become too
heavy, do we carry them? Or are we sometimes dozing in the face of their sorrow, not quite
aware of what’s going on in their lives? Is it, as Jesus said, that our spirit is
willing but our flesh is weak?
Stop. Look. Listen. People are calling out to us for comfort and
support. Will we hear them? How grateful, how thankful, we should be that Jesus went all
the way – even to his death on the cross – just for us, for our sins, for our
salvation. What greater love could anyone have?
Come to us, Lord Jesus, in this special season. Make us aware of
those who need our help, our love, and our prayers. We ask in your name. Amen.
