Chapter 23
A Friendly Slumber
They went to a place called
Have you ever been betrayed in your life.? Have you ever told someone that
you have counted on that your heart is broken and that you don't know if
you can go on any longer.? Maybe, it was from a hospital bed knowing that you
have just been diagnosed with an incurable disease that you have experienced
this hollow, tear your guts out feeling.? Or, from a deserted and
lonely home where your wife and children have just departed from through
the tragedy of the word called divorce. Or just maybe, you have
taken that long ride home from the last day of your job. Whether the
departure was unexpected or not. It was still a long and
hard journey. One that can be filled with a range of emotions. From fear
to relief. And from joy to hate. I have been there before. Maybe not in all of
these situations mentioned above. But in a majority of them. You know my
friends the more I study this scripture above the more my hearts bleeds for our
Great Lord Jesus. Why? you may ask. Because we read here that Christ
shares with some of his disciples his soul is overwhelmed with sorrow. Let me
repeat that again. Overwhelmed with sorrow. No, not just saddened. Or, I am a little
troubled. Or, we read it will pass and I just have a headache. No,
OVERWHELMED!!. Now for someone to say that especially the Lord. Things
must be pretty intense, wouldn't you think.? Let us read and more importantly
learn how the disciples reacted to Jesus Christ's display of how he was truly
feeling from the scriptures. " Then he returned to his disciples
and found them sleeping. " Simon, he said to Peter, "Are you asleep.?
Could you not keep watch for one hour.? Watch and pray that you will not fall
into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (Mark
14-37-38) Unbelievable, just unbelievable don't you think? Here
are Jesus’ best friends in his greatest time of need falling asleep when He
needed their support the most. As we read on this is what is further stated in
the Bible. 
" Once more he went away and prayed the same
thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping because their eyes were
heavy. They did not know what to say to him. Returning the third time, he said
to them. "Are you still sleeping and resting. Enough, The hour has come.
Look the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, lets us go
here comes my betrayer." (Mark 14: 39-41) Three times they
fall asleep on God in the garden that day. Could you imagine how Jesus must of
felt.? Betrayed, abandoned, alone, hurt, maybe even devastated.? I mean these
were his best friends who were having a friendly slumber party while Jesus was
suffering so badly that he fell to his knees and had to get Angelic support to
survive the anguish. I know what I would of been saying to God. It probably
would of gone something like this in a question form. " God, I have to go
the cross for these guys.? I have to give my life up so these guys can continue
on with your message.? They cannot even keep their eyes open while I
am in extreme suffering here. And these are my friends.!!" That
is how I would have probably handled this kind of hurt. Thank God Jesus is Jesus.
And I am just lowly Al Petrecca.
What is even more amazing about all of this is that Jesus Christ
still is obedient to the Father In Heaven. No matter who betrays him. His
family, his disciples, his so-called friends. He doesn't get discouraged or side
tracked from what his true calling was. No matter what, the Lord follows
through with his Heavenly purpose. And does it in a way that is full love
and class. Let me ask you something my friends. Let me just be totally blunt
also in the process. How many of you have fallen asleep on the people who have
needed you the most.? Before I throw stones at you. Let me say first that I am
more than guilty of my shares of acts of selfishness. Let me name a few. Not
calling my Grandmother in over two years. Not calling my Uncles who have be en
stricken with cancer recently. Not going to a friends house and bringing them
groceries. Knowing they have children to feed and have been just recently fired
from their jobs. Not calling my Father in Law before he went in for surgery.
And telling him that I am praying for his full recovery. And that I was
thinking of him. The list, well I will not bore you. But to be honest with you
can go on and on. I know we cannot be all things to everyone. I also know that
life is busy and can be overwhelming sometimes. Sure, I realize that. But the
truth is there are people in our lives that need us. They need us now.! Maybe,
just a friendly phone call or visit to see if they are okay. Maybe,
sending a bouquet of flowers or a card sent just to show we care. Whatever
it may be. Let it be something.!! Let us not miss these opportunities to be
there for others that God has put directly in our life. Let us not fall asleep
on the people who need us the most and who are hurting. Especially when they
are standing right in front of us crying out for help. We have choice today my
friends. We can keep on living our lives for selfish purposes. We can pray only
for our own needs. We can worry about how everything only affects us. Or
we can begin a new direction where we put this prideful behavior behind us. And
start to hear what is truly going on around us. Everyday according
to the Bible. We are being conformed to the image of Christ.
Everyday, God is breaking us of our selfish desires and our non God awareness.
Whether we know or feel this transformation or not. It is still happening
no matter what we may think or may believe. My hope and prayer
is that whomever reads this chapter will wake up and learn from how
wrongly the disciples acted towards Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. And
more importantly stay awake.! Maybe someone now after reading this chapter
will go and visit an ex-coworker who just lost their job and bring
them some money or bags of groceries. Maybe someone will be there for their child
more who they see is faltering before it is to late. And maybe, just maybe
we will be their for our friends more when they tell us their hearts are truly
broken. Let our ears be intent on hearing others pleas and needs first.
And being there, truly being there for them. With our eyes and heart wide open
to help heal everyone of their sorrowful needs. Here is to a new awareness of
not falling asleep on the ones we truly love. Now and forever more.!! In Jesus
Name. Love you my friends. Al