While We Slept

Good Friday

(Community worship)

While We Slept

Matthew 26:36-46

April 3, 2026

Have you ever been so tired, that you couldn’t wait to go to sleep? There’s lots of reasons that happens.

In fact, the other day, I looked at Debbie and said, “I can’t believe it’s only 8:30, it feels like 11 PM.” I was exhausted, but 8:30 for me is just too early to go to sleep.

Maybe in your world it’s been a long day of work, or a long day of fun and play, but now you’re exhausted.

Or maybe it’s a matter of grief. You’re grieving the loss of a loved one. Or you’re grieving a situation. Maybe it’s the fact that you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired and it doesn’t seem to stop and closing your eyes and drifting off to sleep seems like a great solution. At least the pain will stop for a bit.

Well, at FBC we’ve been talking about awakening this year. What does it mean to be fully alive and awake in the name of Jesus.

And . . . we’re going to carry this theme as well. As we look at the events from the final night of Jesus’ life, I want you to reflect on what the disciples were doing and if you and I would be any different.

Before the torches arrived …

before the soldiers came …

before the kiss of betrayal …

There was a garden.

And in that garden something deeply human happened.

The Garden of Gethsemane was a familiar place. A place where Jesus went to pray. But this night was different. Something in Jesus had changed.

You’ve heard the scripture from Matthew 26. Jesus tells the disciples He’s going to pray. On the surface, that wasn’t a big deal. Jesus often prayed. But this time it was very different. His affect was different, the words He was saying were different.

He takes Peter, James and John with Him and He tells them 3 things about His nature. And this is a game changer. Jesus tells them, I am - - - -

Extremely sorrowful

I am deeply distressed

I am exceedingly or intensely anguished.

Even to the point of DEATH.

Jesus used 3 very different phrases to describe His state of mind and feelings. Understand this . . . Jesus said this to the 3 men who were part of His innermost circle. The 3 men who were closest to Him and knew Him best. Hey guys, I’m at the point of death.

He’s already proclaimed to the disciples, 3 times that He is going to be betrayed . . . And He’s going to be killed.

They’re hearing His words, but they’re not listening to His words.

So, let’s stop there for just a moment. If someone who you considered to be one of your absolute best friends called you over and said ‘I need to pray, come with me to this area. I need to tell you . . .

I am extremely sorrowful,

I am deeply distressed and in fact

My sorrow is so intense.

I feel I’m at the point of death.

Would you stay here and pray for me?

What would you do?

Would you say, “Absolutely!! Let’s pray?” Would you say, “Sure, I’ll be thinking about you.” And you stay back and hang out.

I find it fascinating what the disciples do, and I wonder if we’d really be any different, even though we would like to think we’d be different.

But notice what Jesus said . . . it’s easy to miss the real meaning. In verse 38, He told the disciples - - - -

38 “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and WATCH with me.”

That statement from Jesus, watch with me . . .

Literally, it’s a request to the 3 disciples — not just to watch, but be alert, have a wakeful attentiveness.

In other words, Jesus is telling them not just to stay awake. Be on the lookout. Jesus is telling them - - - -

STAY AWAKE!!

Peter had already declared Jesus to be the Son of God, the Messiah! And now this was the Son of God staring into the full weight of what’s coming.

The betrayal.

The rejection.

The mockery.

The humiliation.

The beating.

The cross.

And then after He goes off to pray, with no support, Jesus returns and what does He find - - - -

40 And Jesus came to the disciples and found them sleeping.

Peter. James. John. Sleeping.

Then Jesus said to Peter - - - - “So, could you not watch with me one hour?

Can’t you hear the rejection and sorrow in that question? Put yourself in Jesus’ shoes, not as the Messiah, but as someone who needed a friend.