“Watch … and pray” [Mark 14:38]

“Watch … and pray”. The three disciples had opportunity to witness the greatest drama of all time as Jesus wrestled in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, but they fell asleep. One of the greatest conflicts known took place in that Garden, but it mattered little to them for they slept through it.
Jesus wanted them to see His agony and to support Him with prayer. He felt, as we do when faced with a crisis, the need to know others are standing with us in prayer. To pray intelligently and directly there must be an awareness of what is going on and some idea about the reason for it. Fervent prayer needs stimulation.
The disciples’ signal failure on this occasion caused Jesus to issue this exhortation to watch and pray. It is recorded for us all: let us seek to heed it.