Mark 14:39 Commentary and Bible Study

They were very tired, but nevertheless they were given a wonderful privilege and a task. They couldn’t actually do anything, but just be there, near the Lord, to watch and pray. That was what he urged them to do. As for Christ, during Gethsemane, Luke tells us, ‘And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, ⁴² Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. ⁴³ And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him’ (Luke 22:41-43). In answer to his prayer, he had a direct empowering from heaven: an angel came and strengthened him. If Christ needed to pray, and needed this answer from heaven, how could the disciples survive, even as witnesses, without prayer for strength from heaven? How can you and I go a single day without meaningfully, sincerely, feelingfully, pleading for the help of God and the Holy Spirit and the Saviour? We need prayer. Being asleep and not praying, they didn't know what to say to him. They should have been praying for their own protection from temptation which Christ had warned them was coming. They knew that their failure to do so left them open to attack. There are times when prayer is hard, but still vital, and continuing in prayer is our only protection. They were speechless because they could give no reason for their failure, and they had quite clearly heard the rebuke given already to Peter.