Why Sleep Ye-A Question of Vigilance

February 7, 2016

Luke 22:39-46 (text: v. 46) [Questions Jesus Asks]

This is the night before Christ’s crucifixion. It is the night He is betrayed by a so-called “friend” and forsaken by His disciples.

1. A night of CONSPIRACY. While Jesus is praying, Judas is leading a band of soldiers to arrest Jesus.
2. A night of COURAGE. If you knew your enemy was coming to betray you, what would you do? Jesus was no coward. Knowing He is about to be arrested, He does not run and hide—Jesus goes out to meet them (Mt. 26:46). He offers no resistance or retaliation. As Isaiah prophesied 700 years earlier—“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isa. 53:7).
3. A night of COMPASSION. Even being betrayed the love of Christ shines forth.

•To Judas— While Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss, Jesus still calls him “Friend” (Mt. 26:50). He still loved Judas.

•To Malchus—After Peter cuts off the ear of the High Priest’s servant, Jesus heals him.

•To Peter—If Jesus had not healed Malchus’ ear it was likely Peter would have been killed on the spot.

But, before His arrest, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him to pray in the garden. Notice five things that occurred before His arrest…

I. The WARNING to watch—“Tarry ye here, and WATCH with me” (Mt. 26:38).

A.The exhortation to “Watch and pray” is repeated in Scripture:

•Neh. 4:9— Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night…

•Mark 13:33— Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

•Eph. 6:18— Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance…

•Col. 4:2— Continue in prayer, and watch in the same…

•1 Peter 4:7— be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

•1 Thess. 5:6— let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

B. The “watching” Jesus calls us to is to wakefulness and vigilance— Be alert as you pray! Keep your spiritual eyes open, for the enemy is near! (1 Pet. 5:8).
C. The disciples failed to recognize the dangers that were soon to come an hour later.