Mark 14:37-38

And Jesus came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

In Mark 14:37-38, Peter falls asleep. It’s a shallow, thoughtless thing to do. This is Jesus’ darkest and loneliest hour. Jesus asked Peter specifically to stay awake and pray.

But shallow as Peter is, we don’t want to be too hard on him. Peter’s sin reminds us of our own sin. Like Peter, we all fall asleep on the job. We are tempted to see the speck of dust in our neighbor’s eye and to look past the log in our own.

Fatigue is a real aspect of our sin. We fall asleep in class. We fall asleep at the wheel. We oversleep for work. Our flesh is weak.

Jesus does not sleep on the job. Jesus is willing to be our Savior. Jesus is strong to be our Savior. Psalm 121 says, “I lift my eyes to the hills from where my help comes. [The Lord] who keeps you, will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

Like a mother watching over an infant in the cradle, Jesus watches over you. Jesus’ remedy of fatigue is forgiveness and care. Jesus says, “Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Are you sleepy and tired? Are you weak and worn out? Jesus is calling you to find your peace and rest in Him.

Dear Jesus, forgive me for sleeping on the job. Thank You for always watching over me with Your mercy, love and grace. Amen.

Contributed by Jeffrey Sippy