IN the fourteenth chapter of Mark's gospel we have the most detailed account of Jesus' last hours with his disciples before his crucifixion. In graphic words we find portrayed his struggle in the garden of Gethsemane, his prayer for deliverance, his touching appeal to Peter, "Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?" Then comes the command, "Watch ye and pray," which was given more than once; but we are told that when he came the third time and found them "asleep again," he said, "Sleep on now, and take your rest."
What pathos lies within these few words! What might have been the outcome had there never been occasion for Jesus to have uttered them! O that the disciples had overcome the inclination to yield to the senses, and that they had watched with him who never gave a useless command! Would the cup then have passed from him, or would that grand, mighty victory over the grave have been more wonderful still? It seems a dreadful thing to be asleep at so vital a time. Even though no event of this tragedy were altered, had the disciples seen the importance of obedient work at this time might it not have added much to Jesus' joy to have known that those whom he had been so faithfully teaching had been loyal to the end? Who of us does not think he would have done better than did these disciples? that he would have watched, and have given all of self to have lessened if only by one drop Jesus' cup of sorrow?
But do not the opportunities of our own day give us every needed chance to show how faithful we would have been? Have we not the eternal Christ ever with us, and is not error ever seeking to betray and crucify the God-idea? Are we awake to the need of watching and praying that we enter not into temptation? Are we guarding the idea of Truth in all its activities? The Christ-idea is being unfolded to us through the church services, the Christian Science literature, the lectures, and in many other ways. Are we seeing to it that nothing is neglected which may help us or our fellow men to a better understanding of God? Until we are sure that we are awake along all these lines, we are giving the world no proof that we, too, would not have slept in the garden of Gethsemane.
