Sleepy

Have you ever gotten sleepy while driving? It’s a terrible feeling when the need for sleep overwhelms you and your senses. My wife, Janet, and I were driving back from a Florida vacation a few years ago when I was overcome by sleepiness. I looked over at her and asked if she was able to take over for a while. She responded, “No, I’m too sleepy.” We had both been overcome with the need for sleep, so we took the next exit, reclined the seats, and we both slept in the parking lot of a mall until I was able to continue the drive home. 

That describes the body’s need for physical sleep. It can overwhelm you until you fall asleep, whether you want to or not. That’s a really bad thing if you’re driving a car. But what about spiritual sleep? Is spiritual sleep real? Can spiritual sleep also overcome you and take control of you, placing you in certain danger? And what is the connection between the physical and the spiritual when it comes to sleep? 

It was the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, and Jesus and his closest Apostles were in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus told Peter, James, and John to watch and wait with Him while he went off a short distance to pray. Jesus’ instructions were clear. Watch and wait with me, and definitely don’t fall asleep. 

Mark 14:34 (NLT) 

He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 

Jesus went off by himself and faced the certainty of his own death, yes, death on the cross. When he returned to the three, he found them all sleeping. 

Mark 14:37-38 (NLT) 

Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 

38 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 

This is where Jesus connects the physical and the spiritual desire to sleep. Jesus wanted his followers to stay awake, but their physical bodies couldn’t do it, and they all fell asleep. I wonder if Jesus is saying the same thing to his followers today. Can’t you watch with me for one hour? 

I’m tempted sometimes to say those same words of Jesus to the audience when I see someone falling asleep in the midst of my Sunday sermon…Can’t you watch with me for one hour? Yes, the physical body is weak when it comes to sleepiness. The Spirit is willing to hang in there for as long as necessary, but our bodies are so weak during the time of waiting. 

Today’s “word” is not about the tendency to get sleepy during a Sunday sermon, even though that might be a sign of a deeper spiritual issue. Today’s “word” is about a much deeper spiritual sleep, a sleep that leads to death and separation from God. 

Mark 13:33-37 (NLT) 

And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert! 

34 “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. 

35 You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. 

36 Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. 

37 I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!” 

This spirit sleep is worse than the sleepiness while driving a car. It’s worse than the sleepiness that comes in a Sunday sermon or a late-night movie on the couch. The sleep that Jesus warns of is a spirit sleep. The sleep that ignores and refuses to awaken to the truth that we will all one day stand before Jesus, either through the clouds or the grave. 

Ephesians 5:10-14 (NLT) 

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 

11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 

12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 

13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 

14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” 

Are you sleepy? It’s time to wake up! 

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen, 

Terry Cooper 

Lead Minister