Sunday, September 5, 2021

The Third Time Asleep - Mark 14:41

Mark wrote how Jesus and His disciples, “came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he said to his disciples, Sit you here, while I shall pray. And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy. And said unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry you here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto you; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what you will. And he came, and found them sleeping, and said unto Peter, Simon, are you sleeping? could you not watch one hour? Watch you and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him”, and in chapter fourteen and verse forty-one of his book, Mark shared when Jesus, “returned, he found them asleep again”, where we read:

And he came the third time, and said unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest:

it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

The verse reads, “And he came the third time, and said unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest”. Mark began with the words, “and he came the third time” which means “and Jesus arose and approached where the disciples were located for the third time”, “and said unto them” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to His disciples”, “Sleep on now” which means “continue sleeping at this time”, “and take your rest” or “and continue in your cessation from labor, refreshment, quiet and calm”. Mark shared how Jesus went to pray a “third time” and returned to where His disciples were and found them “sleeping” again. This time He told them to continue in their resting.

The verse continues, “it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Mark added the words, “it is enough” which means “the sleeping time is sufficient”, “the hour is come” or “the time has arrived”; “behold” which means “look, lo and see”, “the Son of man” which refers to “the Son of God who is Jesus” “is betrayed” or “is delivered up treacherously to be put into custody, to be judged, condemned, punished, scourged, tormented and put to death” “into the hands of sinners” which means “through the agency and determining and controlling of destinies of those devoted to sin, wicked and heathen”. Mark shared how Jesus declared His disciples time of “sleeping” was sufficient because it was time for His “betrayal” and He would be delivered into the control of “sinful and wicked” people.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we discover how patient Jesus was as He endured in prayer. Though His disciples were not “watching and praying” as Jesus directed them, He continued in faithfulness toward His suffering and the cross. Jesus knew He would be “betrayed” by Judas, and His time was “at hand”, and still He endured all these things so people could be “saved” from their “sins” and live with Him forever. Those who are wise will examine what Jesus did for them and yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus said, “Rise up, let us go; he that betrays me is at hand”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites,
http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".







 

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