Luke 22: 45
King James Version
"And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,"
As the Easter season draws near each year, I like to read and study the Biblical account of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
This morning as I read I came to the verse in Luke that says: "And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow," Luke 22: 45.
Now when we read this chapter we often focus on what Jesus did next. He woke them from their sleep and asked them: "Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into tempation." There is a good lesson in Jesus' response to His disciples' slumber.
But this morning, as I read I was reminded of a Bible Study I attended years ago. The woman that was teaching laughed as she told our small group that her husband always said the disciples had drank to much wine, and therefore couldn't remain awake to pray as Jesus had asked them.
I remember being so discouraged when I heard our leader say that. I cringed, but didn't argue. I hadn't studied the context enough yet at that point to give a rebuttal, but I knew within my spirit she was wrong.
I went home that afternoon determined to review what had been taught in our study that day. It didn’t take much, there was the obvious answer plainly written in verse 45. “…he found them sleeping for sorrow,…”
There was the very simple answer, but one that was extremely important, especially in light of what was being taught that day.
Now this isn’t an argument for whether the disciples drank alcoholic wine. That can be for a discussion another day, but what was important is that no where does it say the disciples had fallen asleep because they had drank too much. So why teach it?
This post is only to encourage you to listen to that still small voice within you that says, “This just isn’t right.” Or “Could that really have happened?” Then search the Scripture to find out what the truth is. Don’t just take things as truth because someone says something. Be a Berean –search the Scripture: Acts 17:11
I was delighted I had followed through on what I felt I heard God telling me. I was glad I studied the verses for myself. The next week, I was able to go back to Bible Study better prepared. I did not want to appear to be argumentative, and I did not want to embarrass or humiliate the instructor. As it happened, the Lord gave me the perfect opportunity to share what I had found, without evening bringing up the leader’s former error.
As I shared the verses that our Lord had found the disciples sleeping for
sorrow, I was able to explain how that can happen to us, when we are
distraught, broken hearted, or worried about something that we don’t fully
understand that is about to take place. I watched our leader as I spoke, and I could see in her face, she “got it”. I could see "the light bulb come on" as the old saying goes.
No more words were said, but by the Lord’s grace, a misconception had been corrected.
I hope to encourage you today, to do more than simply listen to what you are being taught, but rather listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as you sit under the instruction of anyone. And then do as the Bereans did and search the Scripture for your self. God wants us to know His truth, and he wants us to experience the joy, satisfaction and growth that comes from studing correctly, His Word.
Luke 22:39-46
2 Timothy 2:14-15
King James Version
"And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,"
As the Easter season draws near each year, I like to read and study the Biblical account of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
This morning as I read I came to the verse in Luke that says: "And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow," Luke 22: 45.
Now when we read this chapter we often focus on what Jesus did next. He woke them from their sleep and asked them: "Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into tempation." There is a good lesson in Jesus' response to His disciples' slumber.
But this morning, as I read I was reminded of a Bible Study I attended years ago. The woman that was teaching laughed as she told our small group that her husband always said the disciples had drank to much wine, and therefore couldn't remain awake to pray as Jesus had asked them.
I remember being so discouraged when I heard our leader say that. I cringed, but didn't argue. I hadn't studied the context enough yet at that point to give a rebuttal, but I knew within my spirit she was wrong.
I went home that afternoon determined to review what had been taught in our study that day. It didn’t take much, there was the obvious answer plainly written in verse 45. “…he found them sleeping for sorrow,…”
There was the very simple answer, but one that was extremely important, especially in light of what was being taught that day.
Now this isn’t an argument for whether the disciples drank alcoholic wine. That can be for a discussion another day, but what was important is that no where does it say the disciples had fallen asleep because they had drank too much. So why teach it?
This post is only to encourage you to listen to that still small voice within you that says, “This just isn’t right.” Or “Could that really have happened?” Then search the Scripture to find out what the truth is. Don’t just take things as truth because someone says something. Be a Berean –search the Scripture: Acts 17:11
I was delighted I had followed through on what I felt I heard God telling me. I was glad I studied the verses for myself. The next week, I was able to go back to Bible Study better prepared. I did not want to appear to be argumentative, and I did not want to embarrass or humiliate the instructor. As it happened, the Lord gave me the perfect opportunity to share what I had found, without evening bringing up the leader’s former error.
As I shared the verses that our Lord had found the disciples sleeping for
sorrow, I was able to explain how that can happen to us, when we are
distraught, broken hearted, or worried about something that we don’t fully
understand that is about to take place. I watched our leader as I spoke, and I could see in her face, she “got it”. I could see "the light bulb come on" as the old saying goes.
No more words were said, but by the Lord’s grace, a misconception had been corrected.
I hope to encourage you today, to do more than simply listen to what you are being taught, but rather listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as you sit under the instruction of anyone. And then do as the Bereans did and search the Scripture for your self. God wants us to know His truth, and he wants us to experience the joy, satisfaction and growth that comes from studing correctly, His Word.
Luke 22:39-46
2 Timothy 2:14-15
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