4.22.2011

Staying Awake with Jesus

When I consider the tradition of Maundy Thursday and the many things we learn about the passion of Jesus, I don't usually focus on what role the disciples played.

Sure, they got their feet washed and filled with a meal, they even heard some powerful words. But the part of keeping vigil with Jesus is what was brought to my attention last night.

At our church Steve Smith, author of The Lazarus Life spoke on staying awake with Jesus. He quoted these verses from the gospel...
Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.” Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, “This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me.” Matthew 26:36-38
And there it is. Jesus calling for his disciples to keep awake with Him, to carry the burden with Him while He seeks the father on this issue. What a privilege, right? And what happens? Sleep comes on them.
When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Can‘t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there‘s another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.” Matthew 26:40-41

But listen to the words of Jesus in this. He has no anger, but as a father with his child on a busy street He makes a statement to be alert and stay close. “Don’t wander.”

Could this be the awake He is calling us to? The awake he is calling me to? I know this, when I’m not near Him in prayer and the word, the temptations of this world call to me and I am more prone to listen to them than to His beautiful voice.

It’s time to be awake and to abide with Jesus. To hear Him as he prays, to soak in every beautiful word. For soon He will be taken.

Teach me to listen.