Could You Not Watch With Me One Hour? | When Jesus Asks the Question, Part 9
Key Truth | Our relationship with Jesus isn't measured by how much we accomplish for Him, but by our willingness to make room for His presence, listen to His voice, and simply be with Him.
Key Scripture | “Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?’” — Matthew 26:40 NKJV
This question feels different from the others because Jesus wasn’t asking His disciples to preach, heal, lead or accomplish anything. He simply asked them to stay with Him.
Jesus was in Gethsemane, just hours away from the cross. He told Peter, James and John that His soul was “exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.” Yet when He returned to them, they were asleep.
“Could you not watch with Me one hour?”
That question has been challenging me because I know how easy it is to measure my relationship with God by what I’m doing for Him. Ministry can actually make that easier. You can preach about Jesus, lead people toward Jesus, make decisions for His church and still struggle to simply be with Jesus.
Maybe that’s true outside of ministry too. We can fill our lives with good things, responsibilities and people we love until God gets what’s left of us instead of the best of us.
That’s what connects this question to the rest of this series. We’ve been talking about allowing Jesus to ask us hard questions, but we have to be present enough to hear them.
Maybe some of the questions Jesus wants to ask us aren’t being avoided intentionally. Maybe our lives have simply become too loud to notice them.
The disciples loved Jesus. Their problem wasn’t a lack of love. They were tired. Jesus even acknowledged it: “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
I appreciate that because Jesus understands our humanity. But He still calls them to watch and pray.
Maybe prayer isn’t always about bringing Jesus another request or finding the right words. Sometimes it’s staying with Him long enough to become honest about what’s happening inside us.
We often ask God to speak.
Maybe the harder question is whether we’re listening.
“Could you not watch with Me one hour?”
Perhaps Jesus isn’t asking for more productivity from us.
Maybe He’s asking us to be present.
Reflection
Prayer | Jesus, forgive me for the times I’ve allowed doing things for You to replace simply being with You. Slow me down enough to hear You and become honest about what’s happening inside me. Teach me to watch, pray and listen. Amen.
Go Deeper
Matthew 26:36–46
Psalm 46:10
Luke 10:38–42
John 15:4–5
Psalm 27:8
The Echo | Jesus doesn’t ask questions because He needs answers. He asks questions because we do.
Key Scripture | “Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?’” — Matthew 26:40 NKJV
This question feels different from the others because Jesus wasn’t asking His disciples to preach, heal, lead or accomplish anything. He simply asked them to stay with Him.
Jesus was in Gethsemane, just hours away from the cross. He told Peter, James and John that His soul was “exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.” Yet when He returned to them, they were asleep.
“Could you not watch with Me one hour?”
That question has been challenging me because I know how easy it is to measure my relationship with God by what I’m doing for Him. Ministry can actually make that easier. You can preach about Jesus, lead people toward Jesus, make decisions for His church and still struggle to simply be with Jesus.
Maybe that’s true outside of ministry too. We can fill our lives with good things, responsibilities and people we love until God gets what’s left of us instead of the best of us.
That’s what connects this question to the rest of this series. We’ve been talking about allowing Jesus to ask us hard questions, but we have to be present enough to hear them.
Maybe some of the questions Jesus wants to ask us aren’t being avoided intentionally. Maybe our lives have simply become too loud to notice them.
The disciples loved Jesus. Their problem wasn’t a lack of love. They were tired. Jesus even acknowledged it: “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
I appreciate that because Jesus understands our humanity. But He still calls them to watch and pray.
Maybe prayer isn’t always about bringing Jesus another request or finding the right words. Sometimes it’s staying with Him long enough to become honest about what’s happening inside us.
We often ask God to speak.
Maybe the harder question is whether we’re listening.
“Could you not watch with Me one hour?”
Perhaps Jesus isn’t asking for more productivity from us.
Maybe He’s asking us to be present.
Reflection
- Has the pace and noise of my life made it difficult to hear what Jesus may be saying?
- When was the last time I was with Him without needing to accomplish anything?
Prayer | Jesus, forgive me for the times I’ve allowed doing things for You to replace simply being with You. Slow me down enough to hear You and become honest about what’s happening inside me. Teach me to watch, pray and listen. Amen.
Go Deeper
Matthew 26:36–46
Psalm 46:10
Luke 10:38–42
John 15:4–5
Psalm 27:8
The Echo | Jesus doesn’t ask questions because He needs answers. He asks questions because we do.
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