Mark 14:39-42

The agony of Christ: V. 39. And again He went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. V. 40. And when He returned, He found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer Him. V. 41. And He cometh the third time and saith unto them, Sleep on now and take your rest; it is enough, the hour is come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. V. 42. Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth Me is at hand.

A second and a third time Jesus left the disciples to return to His place of prayer and to wrestle with God in the fierce struggle because of the sins of mankind. When He returned to the disciples the second time, He found them asleep again, in spite of His earnest warning, and their eyes seemed weighted down with sleep; their answer to His call was given in a dazed manner, and they had no excuse to offer; they were helplessly overcome.

In the mean time the struggle was continuing in the soul of the Lord, but He was gaining strength toward its close, He was conquering the fear of death, the pains of hell.

When He came back to His disciples for the third time, His words sounded almost crisp: Are you still sleeping and resting nicely? It is enough!

If not expressed in so many words, the meaning found by some commentators seems to be contained here: "The struggle has been brought to an end, the agony has been conquered. Further suffering is before Me; I am about to be delivered into the hands of the heathen, the sinners. But the prospect holds no terrors for Me, though I know that the traitor is even now on his way and at the gates of the garden. Arise; let us go! The Scripture must be fulfilled arid the final conquest made."

Christ is ever the Champion of His believers, He goes before them and leads the way; He also battles for them and overcomes the enemies in their stead. But He does not want them to sit idly by and do nothing. They shall follow in His footsteps, go the way that He has gone, and in His power vanquish the enemies.