Why are You Sleeping? - Luke 22:46

The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus, “came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that you enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if you be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, ...”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse forty-six of his book Luke shared how Jesus says to his disciples, “Why are you sleeping? rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation” where we read:

And said unto them, Why sleep you? rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.

The verse reads, “And said unto them, Why sleep you?” Luke began with the words, “and said unto them” or “and Jesus uttered, declared, proclaimed to and asked His disciples”, “why sleep you” which means “for what reason and cause are you, disciples of Jesus, slumbering and asleep”? Luke shared how Jesus questioned His “disciples” as to the “reason” they were “slumbering and asleep”.

The verse goes on to say, “rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” Luke added the words, “rise and pray” or “stand forth, arise and appear and supplicate, make orations and worship”, “lest you enter into temptation” which means “except and whether you, disciples of Jesus, will arise and come into a time of trying and proving of fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy and enticement to sin”. Luke shared how Jesus directed His sleeping “disciples” to get up and “make orations and worship” or they might “come into” a testing of their “integrity, virtue constancy” and be “enticed to sin”.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus knew His disciples might be prone to “sin” if they did not “pray”. Though they were “exhausted from grief”, they needed to keep in continual contact with God the Father. God sent His Son Jesus to suffer and die for the sins of mankind, and because people are likely to fail in their times of “testing”, they should stay in a constant state of “supplicating and worshiping” Him. Those who are wise will see the great value in “rising up and praying” so they may not fall into “sin” against Almighty God.

Next time Luke shares how, “Judas, … went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him”, 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".