Three Friends, Three Failures, Unending Love

Mark 14:32-42

³² They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ³⁴ “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

³⁵ Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

³⁷ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

³⁹ Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

⁴¹ Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

I attempted to read this very familiar passage with fresh eyes and consider what was going on from the disciples’ point of view.

Firstly, I noticed that that Jesus brought His disciples with Him to the garden but then invited only His 3 closest disciples– Peter, James and John to advance further with Him, close enough to hear His anguished prayers. So, when Jesus rebuked them for falling asleep, He is most likely just addressing the 3, not the others.

It made me wonder why Jesus only brought the 3 closer but not the rest.  Perhaps this demonstrates to us that some people earn a deeper place of trust with Jesus than others. Although God loves us all equally, we are not all equally close in relationship with Him. Even so, His three closest friends let Him down by falling asleep in His hour of need. Not just once, but three times!

I recognise that I have been somewhat judgemental in the past, wondering how His friends could fall asleep at this crucial moment in Jesus’s life. It occurs to me now that they did not know what was going on or truly understand the significance of what was about to happen.

It reminds us that even those who are closest to God have human frailty and weakness, and a lack of understanding at times. Falling asleep three times is one thing, but then later that night Peter goes on to verbally deny even knowing Jesus three times.

No matter how close we get to God, we are still going to make selfish choices at times. And yet God loves and forgives us despite it all. How beautiful and freeing is the grace and forgiveness of Jesus.

Lord God, I desire to be a person who has a close relationship with You, and yet I realise how often I succumb to selfish choices. Thank you for your amazing restorative grace and unending love.

Written by Shelley Witt