Are we sleeping on the job?

Today, we are in the garden. Yes, the Garden of Gethsemane. Today's picture is an ancient olive tree and I want you to picture Peter, James and John resting along that tree and place yourself right along them.

Jesus is very upset. He request that we wait here and keep watch over him. Jesus is described as crushed with grief, deeply troubled, distressed and his one request that we keep watch over him. What do we do? We don't totally understand, it's been a really long day. We are emotionally and physically tired, it's dark, it's quiet and we fall asleep on our job. It seemed simple enough, didn't it? Keep watch..

Jesus returns to find us all asleep. Imagine the pain of finding those he counted on to watch over him asleep on their job. Not only does Jesus know what is about to happen ~ his closest friends have fallen asleep. Betrayed and being denied are about to happen and Jesus is praying to His Father ~ Abba, Father everything is possible for you. Please take this cup from me. Yet all I want his for your will to be done…Still Jesus stays in God's will not his own.

Next you hear a crowd approaching and Jesus realizes what is about to happen. He steps forward and ask who are you looking for? Jesus the Nazarene and he replies I AM he…Jesus stepped forward and replied I AM HE…He once again stepped into God's will and where are the ones who accompanied him?

One book tells us the deserted him and ran away..another they deserted him and fled..How often do we desert Him and run? How often are we just like these disciples?

At the beginning, I requested that you place yourself at the base of that olive tree with those disciples because all too often we sleep, we desert and we run…and all Jesus says is Come to me all who are weary…Come follow me…Come in the difficult times come to me …

Thank you Father for loving me,

Debbie