This is a story in which we can kind of feel for everyone involved. Can you identify with Jesus who just wanted some solidarity with those closest to him? He just wanted to know that others cared about what he was feeling.
At the same time, perhaps you can identify with the disciples who are just so tired they can’t keep their eyes open.
Jesus knows what is coming and wants to face it having prayed through. He doesn’t hold back in transparency with the disciples - with great sadness and anxiety, as if I’m dying. Their inattention will soon go beyond sleeping through prayer time as their inability to stick with him will burst from fatigue to all out abandonment.
Matthew 25:36-46
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go and pray over there.” When he took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, he began to feel sad and anxious. Then he said to them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying. Stay here and keep alert with me.” Then he went a short distance farther and fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. However—not what I want but what you want.”
He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay alert one hour with me? Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation. The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.” A second time he went away and prayed, “My Father, if it’s not possible that this cup be taken away unless I drink it, then let it be what you want.”
Again he came and found them sleeping. Their eyes were heavy with sleep. But he left them and again went and prayed the same words for the third time. Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Will you sleep and rest all night? Look, the time has come for the Human One to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up. Let’s go. Look, here comes my betrayer.”
Prayer
God -
Thank you for the Jesus of Gethsemane. I feel much closer to him because of his prayer in that garden. We both know what it is to feel alone, to feel anxious, to feel like the world is full of death and betrayal all around. But we also know what it is to hold on to whatever sliver of hope we have left, to cry out to you for change.
Thank you for answering his prayer. Certainly not that you did immediately, but in the end, you delivered him indeed. You had him. You held him. You remembered him. You raised him.
Lord, remember me. Lift me up this day to new life. Help me to live even now during Lent, with the crucified and resurrected Christ.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.