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Which disciple fell asleep?

In the Garden of Gethsemane, on the night before His crucifixion, Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him to pray. He asked them to keep watch while He went a little farther to pray. When He returned, He found them sleeping. This happened three times. So which disciple actually fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane?

The Garden of Gethsemane

After the Last Supper, Jesus went with His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. This garden was located at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. It was a peaceful place that Jesus often visited with His disciples to rest and pray (Luke 22:39).

On this night, Jesus was deeply troubled about the suffering He was about to face. He knew His crucifixion was imminent. Three of His closest disciples, Peter, James and John, accompanied Him into the garden to keep watch while He prayed. Jesus told them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matthew 26:38).

Jesus went a little farther to pray alone. He fell to the ground, overcome with anguish, and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). Jesus was in such deep emotional turmoil that His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44).

The Disciples Fall Asleep

When Jesus returned from praying, He found Peter, James and John sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?” (Mark 14:37). Jesus urged them to pray so they would not fall into temptation (Luke 22:40).

Jesus went away a second time to pray. When He returned, the disciples were once again sleeping, “for their eyes were heavy” (Luke 22:45). So He left them again to pray. When Jesus came back after praying a third time, the disciples were still sleeping.

Jesus said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners” (Matthew 26:45). Jesus knew the time of His betrayal and arrest was approaching, yet His closest friends were unable to stay awake and pray with Him in His time of need.

Why Did the Disciples Fall Asleep?

There are a few reasons why the disciples may have fallen asleep in the garden:

  • It was late at night and they were tired from the long day.
  • They had just eaten a big meal at the Last Supper, which may have made them drowsy.
  • They didn’t fully grasp the gravity of the situation and didn’t realize prayer was urgently needed.
  • They were emotionally exhausted from Jesus’ talk about His coming suffering and death.

Jesus himself said “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Despite wanting to keep watch, the disciples’ physical bodies succumbed to sleep.

Jesus Shows Grace

Although Jesus was clearly disappointed they couldn’t stay awake, He showed grace and mercy to His disciples. He knew they meant well but were overtaken by exhaustion. At any point, He could have scolded them harshly for their failure to watch and pray. But Jesus understood their human limitations.

Just hours later, when the temple guards arrested Jesus, these same disciples “deserted him and fled” (Mark 14:50). But Jesus did not condemn them. He knew they would go on to boldly lead the early church and share the gospel, even at the cost of their lives. His grace transformed their weakness into courageous strength.

Peter’s Denial

Peter famously denied three times that he even knew Jesus after His arrest. As the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had predicted, Peter remembered Jesus’ words and broke down, realizing what he had done (Luke 22:61-62). If Peter had stayed awake and prayed with Jesus, perhaps this could have been avoided.

But again, Jesus did not write off Peter for his denials. After His resurrection, Jesus lovingly restored Peter and charged him to “feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). The disciples’ failings in Gethsemane became important lessons that God later used to transform them into the pillars of the early church.

Conclusion

According to the Gospel accounts, it appears all three disciples—Peter, James and John—fell asleep in Gethsemane despite Jesus’ pleas to stay awake. Their human bodies were exhausted, even though their spirit was willing. Jesus showed them grace in their moment of weakness. His forgiveness helped transform them into courageous leaders who went on to strengthen and build up the early church.

Disciple Fell Asleep?
Peter Yes
James Yes
John Yes

In summary, according to the Gospel accounts, all three disciples—Peter, James and John—fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, despite His pleas for them to stay awake and pray.

Life Application

As disciples of Jesus today, what can we learn from this account?

The need for spiritual alertness

Prayer is our lifeline to God and sustains us through trials. Like the disciples, we may often succumb to sleep when God wants us to be spiritually alert in prayer. We need to be watchful and ready (Matthew 26:41).

God’s grace when we fail

Jesus shows us mercy when we stumble. His forgiveness transforms our greatest failures into testimonies of His power. God used the disciples mightily despite their temporary failings.

Jesus feels our weaknesses

Jesus was fully man as well as fully God. He experienced our human frailties and temptations yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He has compassion on our weaknesses.

The power of community

We need Christian fellowship for support and accountability. The disciples may have fared better if they had prayed together rather than sleeping alone.

May this account inspire us watchful prayer and grace toward others. Though the disciples slept, Jesus never stops interceding for His own!