Mt. 26:45 - "Are you still sleeping and resting? The hour is near."

     Jesus' disciples could have broken through their drug-like drowsiness if they had believed and acted on Jesus' words, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (v. 41)
     Jesus had promised God would give them anything they needed if they asked (Jn. 15:7; Lk. 11:9), so why didn't they ask? Did they feel strong enough to handle anything that would come? It seems like that is the human default button. Were they in denial about what lay ahead, ignoring Jesus' warnings because they didn't fit their hopes? Were they discouraged because of recent rejections and Jesus' dark prophecies about suffering?
     Through prayer, they could have broken through to a better place and experienced enlightenment and strengthening by the Spirit. But now "the hour" had come--a time set back in eternity for Jesus' sacrifice and all it entailed. Predicted in prophecy, symbolized in the sanctuary and sacrificials system, the Christ will now suffer and die for humanity.
     A few days earlier (Mt. 24-25) Jesus predicted His end-time disciples will struggle with the same lethargy (Mt. 25:1-13; Rev. 3:14-22). When the "hour" arrives again many of Jesus' disiples will be slumbering.
     So I ask you, would it be a good idea to learn from those first disciples' failure and begin "watching and praying" with Jesus--taking time to stay spiritually awake, observe His words, think about them, talk them over with Him on a daily basis, and serve as He leads? The is the "one thing" Jesus kept refering to (Lk. 10:42).
     To us living in these last days, Jesus says, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect. Him. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him so doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions" (Mt. 24:45-47).
     The hour is near.