Article December 13, 1947 Issue

"COULDEST NOT THOU WATCH ONE HOUR?"

CLARA FEIG

During his night of anguish in Gethsemanse, Jesus took three of his disciples with him and asked them to watch while "he went forward a little, ... and prayed." Upon returning he found them sleeping and said to Peter (Mark 14:37), "Couldest not thou watch one hour?"

No doubt many have wondered why the disciples, when given the sacred privilege of watching with the Master for one hour, fell asleep. They loved the Master and had left their respective homes and families to follow him, even to the cross.

In pondering this narrative, we may feel certain that had we had such a privilege we should have made the most of the high trust. Nevertheless, we too sometimes fall asleep when we should be watching; for example, when reading the Lesson-Sermon or listening to the church service or to a lecture we sometimes hear only words and do not grasp their meaning.

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