Mark 14:32-42-- Gethsemane

They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here until I have prayed." And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch." And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, "Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will." And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not come into testing; the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. And He came the third time, and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays me is at hand!"

Gethsemane is an olive tree grove just outside Jerusalem, near an olive press.  This is where Jesus often spent the night with his disciples while he was in Jerusalem.  It was a secluded spot, where he could have some privacy with his disciples, and large enough that he could break the disciples into groups.  

Eight of the disciples he left at one side of the garden, bringing his “inner circle”—Peter, James and John—with him to the other side.  Then he told them to “keep watch”, which they took to mean “stand guard against enemies,”  but Jesus wanted them to pray, which is what he did just a little distance from the three.  

He needed his privacy so he could pray openly before the Father without distractions. The text mentions a number of times how Jesus was grieving—but he was not grieving because of his death or because “the weight of the world’s sin was to be put upon him” (a theological idea that cannot be found in the gospels).  Rather, he was grieving about the “cup” which is his sufferings, especially the shame and rejection he was to endure.  It is hard to overemphasize the importance honor has in this culture, and how terrible any shame was.  This cultural context was lived out by Jesus, and to knowingly endure the most shameful treatment anyone could imagine was overwhelming.  So much so that Jesus begged to be released from it.  At the same time, he allowed that if it was God’s will to endure such shame, he would accept it.  

While he was praying, the disciples were sleeping.  They were supposed to remain alert and pray, for they were to be put through a terrible test.  Jesus clearly told them what difficulties would face them that night just earlier, but they were too tired to feel the significance of what Jesus said.  Jesus woke them three times, warning them that they needed to be praying, the time of testing is very close.  But they fell asleep three times, not heeding Jesus, and so they were unprepared when the test came.  

Jesus’ statement “The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,” is very significant for New Testament theology.  The statement could mean that our spiritual side wants to follow God, but our natural side does not have enough strength to do it, and it would fit in the context—the disciples claimed they would die for Jesus, but their sleep is overwhelming them so they are unprepared.  However, in later theology, it is the Holy Spirit that is contrasted with the flesh (see Romans 8 and I Peter 4:6), which might mean they interpret Jesus here as also speaking of the Holy Spirit.  If this is the case, then Jesus would be saying that the Spirit of God wished to assist the disciples, but the disciples are too weak—meaning tired—to ask for or pay attention to the Spirit’s assistance.  

Finally, it is Jesus who “kept watch”, for he was the one who noticed the crowds coming and understood their significance—he was about to be “handed over” or betrayed.

Every single one of us must face the moment of test, the moment in which our faith might break because the task of remaining faithful is too difficult for us.  At this point, when it comes, Jesus warns us to "keep watch" even as he warned his disciples at their fateful hour.  But what does "keep watch" mean?  Does it mean that we should be aware of the danger that is about to come?  Of course, Jesus just warned the disciples of what that danger was and that it was upon them.  

Does it mean that we need to be prepared?  That we should get more knowledge, more resources, to fight our battle?  That we need more people, more help?  If we prepare in this way, we only display our ignorance.  In the end, the battle for our souls will be the battle for our resolve.  Our resolve to remain on the path of God, no matter who else has forsaken us.  Our resolve to keep our faith, no matter how many difficulties.  Our resolve to stick to God's plan, even if the whole world is in opposition to us.  Our resolve to have the will to stand our ground with God, although our worst disaster befalls us. 

How can we be prepared for this?  We can't, ultimately.  We are human, and so our will has limits.  The only thing we can do is seek God and ask for His strength.  God is the one who has enough resolve for us and all who follow Him, if only we would seek it.  Jesus asks us to follow him into prayer, crying out to God for strength.