Jesus warns His disciples to pray. They sleep instead. Why?
Luke 22:39–40 ESV “And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.””
Jesus Prays by Himself
Luke 22:41–44 ESV “And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
We know from the other Gospel writers that He would pray three times and be returning to check on them three times, finding them sleeping.
His prayer is one of humble submission to the will of God the Father, both in words and in posture. His request acknowledges the goodness and sovereignty of God. Jesus asks “if it is possible” because He is in agony and all is possible with God, yet, He desires His Father’s will even more, as He had throughout His life, noted by words “Your will be done.”
The Lord Jesus knows that the Cross is necessary for the accomplishment of God’s will and purpose in redemption. His crucifixion is unavoidable. And He also knows that ultimately the Cross would be His glory (John 12:27-28).
God the Father answers His prayer immediately by sending an angel to strengthen Him. Jesus is strengthened in soul and in resolve in prayer, by prayer, and in answer to prayer. And so, Jesus prayed even more earnestly, as intense trials require intense prayer.
He exerted Himself so much that He perspired profusely. So much so, it looked like He was bleeding. “Sweat like drops of blood” is most likely a metaphor, though some think this is hematidrosis. This prayer of agony lasted about one hour.
Jesus is Ready to Go!
Luke 22:45–46 ESV “And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.””
Jesus doesn’t sleep like a coward, but moves forward in faith and prayer, fully aware of the future. Jesus finishes His prayer and rises resolute to gain the victory at the Cross. Jesus is ready to go, but His disciples are not—they didn’t pray, but slept. He wakes up the disciples and warns them again to pray even now, but it is really too late. Where will their prayerlessness lead?
The disciples were sleeping out of sorrow, grief, and exhaustion. This is a common human response, as we well know, for we often do the same thing. We “sleep on it” to escape; and we can gain a false sense of confidence and readiness from sleep.
What they needed most was not sleep but spiritual readiness from time in prayer. Sometimes sleep is what we need no doubt, but often the solution to problems is more prayer, not more sleep.
Jesus prays and is strengthened; His disciples do not pray, revealing their weakness. Jesus, the Divine Messiah, knows He needs strength; His disciples, think they are strong enough already. In His humanity, Jesus perseveres and sets an example for us. Prayer prepares us to do God’s will in all our being. If Jesus needs it, so do we.
The disciples’ prayerlessness leaves them unprepared for doing God’s will. They have lost this skirmish with the flesh, and it will show in their battles to come.
The Choice to Pray or Sleep
Jesus and His disciples made very different choices about prayer, which led to very different actions, and to very different results for their faith. Jesus models praying in agony, while we as His disciples often choose to sleep in sorrow. He rose with courage to face the fight, while we often find ourselves failing before our temptations.
This story opens (v.40) and closes (v.46) the same: “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” The implied promise is that God will indeed respond, strengthening us according to our need.
Prayer prepares us by communion with God, who gives perspective to our minds and hearts. Prayer prepares us by the Spirit and angels who strengthen and provide confidence and courage. Prayer is the hard work of the Christian and the Church; it is always a struggle in our flesh.
How do you typically respond to crises, life pressures, enemies’ opposition, and temptations? What is your usual faith level in dealing with such things? Is it enough? Perhaps, you have been sleeping when you should have been praying?
It is not a trite question, but a serious one, “have you prayed about it?” Have you been praying, and do you continue to pray until you receive courage from God to face your situation directly? Until you can move forward in God’s strength to do God’s will in your situation?
Have you ever prayed with such intensity that you broke a sweat? We don’t have to pray this intensely all the time, but you ever? Prayer is not always sweet and simple, or earnest and heart-felt, or set upon joy and glory, but sometimes it is really hard work and agonizing, even physical.
We should marvel at the resolve of our Lord Jesus Christ in prayer and courage, and then imitate Him. The choice was between agonizing prayer or sleeping away sorrows. The outcome would result in either courageous faith or cowardly faithlessness.
Luke 22:39–40 ESV “And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.””
Jesus Prays by Himself
Luke 22:41–44 ESV “And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
We know from the other Gospel writers that He would pray three times and be returning to check on them three times, finding them sleeping.
His prayer is one of humble submission to the will of God the Father, both in words and in posture. His request acknowledges the goodness and sovereignty of God. Jesus asks “if it is possible” because He is in agony and all is possible with God, yet, He desires His Father’s will even more, as He had throughout His life, noted by words “Your will be done.”
The Lord Jesus knows that the Cross is necessary for the accomplishment of God’s will and purpose in redemption. His crucifixion is unavoidable. And He also knows that ultimately the Cross would be His glory (John 12:27-28).
God the Father answers His prayer immediately by sending an angel to strengthen Him. Jesus is strengthened in soul and in resolve in prayer, by prayer, and in answer to prayer. And so, Jesus prayed even more earnestly, as intense trials require intense prayer.
He exerted Himself so much that He perspired profusely. So much so, it looked like He was bleeding. “Sweat like drops of blood” is most likely a metaphor, though some think this is hematidrosis. This prayer of agony lasted about one hour.
Jesus is Ready to Go!
Luke 22:45–46 ESV “And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.””
Jesus doesn’t sleep like a coward, but moves forward in faith and prayer, fully aware of the future. Jesus finishes His prayer and rises resolute to gain the victory at the Cross. Jesus is ready to go, but His disciples are not—they didn’t pray, but slept. He wakes up the disciples and warns them again to pray even now, but it is really too late. Where will their prayerlessness lead?
The disciples were sleeping out of sorrow, grief, and exhaustion. This is a common human response, as we well know, for we often do the same thing. We “sleep on it” to escape; and we can gain a false sense of confidence and readiness from sleep.
What they needed most was not sleep but spiritual readiness from time in prayer. Sometimes sleep is what we need no doubt, but often the solution to problems is more prayer, not more sleep.
Jesus prays and is strengthened; His disciples do not pray, revealing their weakness. Jesus, the Divine Messiah, knows He needs strength; His disciples, think they are strong enough already. In His humanity, Jesus perseveres and sets an example for us. Prayer prepares us to do God’s will in all our being. If Jesus needs it, so do we.
The disciples’ prayerlessness leaves them unprepared for doing God’s will. They have lost this skirmish with the flesh, and it will show in their battles to come.
The Choice to Pray or Sleep
Jesus and His disciples made very different choices about prayer, which led to very different actions, and to very different results for their faith. Jesus models praying in agony, while we as His disciples often choose to sleep in sorrow. He rose with courage to face the fight, while we often find ourselves failing before our temptations.
This story opens (v.40) and closes (v.46) the same: “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” The implied promise is that God will indeed respond, strengthening us according to our need.
Prayer prepares us by communion with God, who gives perspective to our minds and hearts. Prayer prepares us by the Spirit and angels who strengthen and provide confidence and courage. Prayer is the hard work of the Christian and the Church; it is always a struggle in our flesh.
How do you typically respond to crises, life pressures, enemies’ opposition, and temptations? What is your usual faith level in dealing with such things? Is it enough? Perhaps, you have been sleeping when you should have been praying?
It is not a trite question, but a serious one, “have you prayed about it?” Have you been praying, and do you continue to pray until you receive courage from God to face your situation directly? Until you can move forward in God’s strength to do God’s will in your situation?
Have you ever prayed with such intensity that you broke a sweat? We don’t have to pray this intensely all the time, but you ever? Prayer is not always sweet and simple, or earnest and heart-felt, or set upon joy and glory, but sometimes it is really hard work and agonizing, even physical.
We should marvel at the resolve of our Lord Jesus Christ in prayer and courage, and then imitate Him. The choice was between agonizing prayer or sleeping away sorrows. The outcome would result in either courageous faith or cowardly faithlessness.
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