Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Passage: Matthew 26:31-56
Focus: “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?’ he asked Peter. ‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.’” Matthew 26:40-41.
There is a profound parallel between physical and spiritual sleep. In both cases the sleeper is made dull to the realities around him. In the case before us, the disciples were doing some of both. Besides their normal night-time sleep, they were certainly dull to the tremendously significant events unfolding, while claiming to be awake, committed, and in control. They had just left the Passover Supper table where Peter had led the others in an arrogant declaration of loyalty, not realizing what kind of disillusionment their sleepy dullness was about to bring them.
I can identify with the sleepy disciples. I’ve learned that one of the most hellish and miserable experiences of my life is to be in church when I am short on rest, or it runs real late, or the speaker is boring, and my head is wanting to shift into sleep mode…yet I’m expected and required to be awake and alert. It can be real embarrassing too. I can even be in conversation with someone when the sleep pressure is high, and while he is taking his turn to expound, my eyes may start to cross and his voice becomes as meaningful as the sound of rain on the roof…and I know he notices. Terrible. I remember being so afflicted even as a young guy while working on the railroad at night. There were times when everything would go blurry and I would virtually fall asleep while standing in the cab of that diesel-electric unit with its massive engine roaring. No…I can’t blame those disciples for not being bright-eyed prayer warriors on that quiet night in the dark. Given the same circumstances, I’m sure I would have been the same.
But there is a very important and valid principle here. It is essential for the victorious believer to be watchful in order to maintain victory. I take that to mean discerning, careful in thought, on guard against any kind of deception, not gullible. Praying, of course, is participating in vital personal communication and fellowship with God. This combination of heart-level discipline is God’s prescription for successful living, and will guard one from falling into negative temptation.
If I turn this prescription around and put a negative on the first part, I think it still yileds an equally valid warning. That is, if I fail to watch and pray, I WILL fall into some kind of bad temptation somewhere along the line. That’s just the way it is.
“Prayer is the breath of the soul: without it you will turn blue.”