Ignorance does not Imply Ineffectiveness

“And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.” (Mr 14:40 AV)

It is interesting the LORD found it necessary to tell us that the ignorance of the disciples and their slumber were related.  One wouldn’t blame them.  How are you supposed to solve the agony of the Son of God?  How are you supposed to comfort someone going through something unique?  What words are you supposed to share at that moment?  Jesus is facing His death.  Not just any death.  He is facing an agonizing death for the sins of all mankind.  No one has done this before, and no one will.  How are we to expect the disciples to have anything profitable to say?  We understand the predicament.  What we must recognize that in their ignorance, they decided to sleep.  This is natural.  If there is nothing that can be done, why not disengage and get some rest?  Activity will keep one awake.  Doing ministry and easing the situation of another can delay rest.  These poor men had nothing they could do to make the situation any better for their beloved Master.  Or was there?

The first time that they slept, Jesus asked a question.  He asked why it was they could not stay awake for one hour while he went yonder to pray.  The second time He asked a similar question.  Clearly, the expectation was for these men to be awake and aware of the passion of Christ regardless of their ability to ease His situation.  There wasn’t much they could do.  But they could empathize.  There were no words that would make this situation any easier.  In fact, if they did try, it might have made it worse.  What they could do is they could stay awake and pray.  What they could do was stay awake simply to say that they cared.  What they could do was to be there for Him with a look on their faces that said, “We don’t understand and maybe never will.  But we care that you are having a hard time.”  Ignorance was the problem.  They didn’t know what to do.  They were at a loss for words.  No matter the question or concern, there simply were no words that would fix this.  At least none that they could come up with.  Maybe a heart of gratitude and words expressing as such might have helped.  After all, Jesus was going to the Cross for them.  Maybe words of appreciation for the last three plus years and all they had seen and all the ways in which Jesus made a difference might have eased the passion.  They simply didn’t know what to say.

No one would blame them for being overwhelmed at the moment.  Anyone who has attended a funeral of someone very close knows exactly what the above scenario must have been like.  Anyone standing at the deathbed of a loved one knows what the disciples faced.  Those who have stood with others through tragedy, financial collapse, a marriage that fell apart, or any such circumstances know what these men were feeling.  They felt totally inadequate.  They felt like total failures.  They felt out of place.  Awkward doesn’t even begin to describe it.  These men were in over their heads.  Therefore, disengaging and resting seemed the likeliest of responses.  If there were nothing to say and no way to ease the affliction, then no energy is expended.  Rest comes naturally.  But there is something we can do.  Ignorance does not imply ineffectiveness.  These men could have stayed awake.  They could have had a prayer meeting all their own.  They could have met Jesus with open eyes and a heavy heart simply to convey the thought that they cared.  Ignorance may bring rest.  But it doesn’t have to.