As we read the accounts of the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, we come across three questions asked by Jesus or angels of certain disciples who has been close to Jesus.

Why Do You? (Part 1)

These three questions start with the words "Why do you...?" They have in them something of a chiding tone, albeit kindly. The men and women who were asked these questions were disciples of good heart and of great faith. They were among Christ’s closest friends. Even they needed to grow in faith and understanding. How much more do we?

1 Why do you sleep?

Lke 22:39-46  Mtt 26:36-46  Mrk 14:32-42

On the night in which Judas was to betray his Master, Jesus had explained to his disciples that he faced betrayal and death, and they faced severe testing. He had gone to one of his favourite places of prayer, The garden of Gesthemane at the Mount of Olives. His disciples followed him. Jesus told them to pray. He himself withdrew just a stone’s throw from them, to pray by himself.

After he had prayed very fervently, Jesus came back to the disciples and found them sleeping, exausted by grief. He awoke them with the question, "Why do you sleep?"

The question is answered before it is asked. They were exausted. The spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. Jesus was disappointed, however, that they could not find that extra strength at this critical hour to stay awake. He was concerned that Satan had obtained permission to test them, but that they might not obtain the strength to resist the tempter.

I suppose most of us have sometime, like the disciples, fallen asleep while we were praying. Or perhaps we have suffered the same embarrassment of Eutychus and fallen asleep in church if not out of the window! (Acts 20:7-10).

I once heard someone mention to a preacher that she sometimes fell asleep while praying and was troubled by it. The preacher put a positive spin on the matter. "I can't think of a better way to fall asleep." That was a nice comment, but we all still sometimes get concerned at the weakness of the flesh and the ease with which emotion and labour can exhaust us. The best solution in the ordinary course of life, is to approach God when our bodies and minds are rested.

There are times, however, when the ordinary course of life is suspended, and we face unusual trials. I suppose most of us have experienced, at some special time, the rising up from within us of a great strength that enabled us to overcome exhaustion and despondency, and to do what had to be done. We seemed to be embued with a great strength of courage and purpose, and extraordinary stamina. Sometimes this ability of the spirit to energise an exausted body and mind is truly amazing.

Of course, we cannot live that way daily, or we would soon burn ourselves out. However such an experience shows that God has sources of extraordinary strength that we can draw upon in times of great need. Whether this extra strength is supernatural, or a natural reserve for emergencies, I do not know. But it is there, and on rare occasions we should draw upon it.

"Why do you weep?" "Why do you gaze?"