Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane and told his disciples, “Sit here while I go o  ver there and pray. Remain here and keep watch with me.” Matthew 26:36, 38b

It’s a crazy, busy time in and around Jerusalem as the Day of Passover draws near. There is a not-so-quiet stir among the many visitors to the city that the teacher, the Messiah, that they have heard about is nearby. As a Jew, Jesus would participate in the annual observation of Passover. In fact, it was then that he was dining in Bethany with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus when Mary anointed him with the expensive perfume to show appreciation for bringing her dead brother back to life. That very miracle had caught the attention of many others on the crowded streets. And so, when he entered the gates of Jerusalem aboard a borrowed donkey, onlookers waved palms and shouted, “Hail, the King of the Jews.

Yes, it was a busy place with Jesus chasing money changers from the Temple, trying hard to make his message clear, that he was soon to die and then rise again to make a way for us to be forgiven. And even though many praised him, many others sought to destroy him and with him, any hope of Christianity taking root. Or so they thought.

It is mid-week. Jesus is very tired from that last attempt to reach the people with his message. He wants to spend a few hours with his disciples and arranges a second-floor room large enough for all of them to dine together. He surprises them with a ritual foot-washing to Peter’s great disdain. All evening Peter tries to convince Jesus that he would never leave him and would, in fact, die for him. And then Jesus makes the statement that on that very night, one of them would betray him. They are all shocked and look at each other with questioning eyes.

After he has shared the bread and the cup, he asks three to join him. Peter, James, and John follow him into the garden where he wants only to rest and pray, for he knows what lies ahead. He asks them to stay back a way to keep watch and let him go ahead to be alone with his Father. His prayers are filled with anguish about the pain he knows he must endure. After a while, he goes back and finds the three sleeping on the ground.

“So you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour. Matthew 26:40b

He wakens them and soundly chastises them for their lack of concern. All he asks is that they maintain a watch while he is about his Father’s business. And he leaves them again with the same instructions to stay awake and be on guard.

We’ve heard the phrase, “sleeping on the job” throughout our lifetimes but has there ever been a more egregious example? We may have fallen asleep during an exam because we stayed out too late with friends or sneaked a nap at our desk when a sick child needed overnight care and comfort. Perhaps we have worked as night security and thought no one will notice if I just grab a few winks. But if we were tasked with the simple duty of standing watch while Jesus prayed, would we fall asleep or be so honored that he chose us that sleep couldn’t come?

Of course, there was nothing the three disciples could have done to prevent the tide of events that was about to overflow the world, but they could have been faithful. In their humanness, they knew nothing of God’s plan, only that they were tired from a long week of traveling and meeting strangers and accepting the menial tasks required for survival. Nothing they could have done would have stopped the wheels that had been set in motion since long before Jesus’ tiny head lay swathed in the sweet scent of hay. But they could have been faithful! They

 could have done the simple task they were assigned as part of the grand drama that was about to unfold.

Get up, let’s go; behold, the one who is betraying Me is near!” Matthew 26:46

That’s what he asks of us, to be faithful. They would all betray him. In fact, the twelve would all run for the hills before this night was over. But, as the three stand there in the garden with Jesus after they’ve fallen asleep two more times, excuses are no longer relevant as it clearly is too late. They hear a throng of soldiers approaching. And who is in the lead but Judas.. And the betrayer places the kiss of death on Jesus’ cheek.