By Benoni Mugarura-Mutana

The morning of Wednesday March 25th, I woke up prompted by the Holy Spirit to write this message to the Church of Uganda in particular, but to the Church of Jesus Christ as a whole. Here it is based on the two scriptures:

Matt 26:45 - Then He returned to the disciples and said to them,“Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

Mark 14:41 - Returning the third time, He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

Are you still sleeping? As if to say, don’t you see what is going on? The day was very dark for the Savior and He had to wrestle with the whole idea of death that was coming very fast. He had been fighting with the flesh and had told them that the spirit is willing but the flesh was weak.  It was a very difficult time for the Lord and yet the disciples were sleeping.

Matthew, in the text above says “He (Jesus) returned to his disciples…” He had gone way from them and not that far. In the midst of friends He felt very lonely and needed to wrestle alone with the fact He was as good as dead. Growing up in a Roman Empire He must have seen the people who were killed by crucifixion and He very well knew that it was soon going to be His turn. How did He know, you may ask?

“When they came together in Galilee, He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.They will kill him, and on the third day He will be raised to life.’ And the disciples were filled with grief.” (Matt 17:22-23)

“We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn Him to death…” (Matt 20:18)

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of Me.”(Matt 24:9).

“We are going up to Jerusalem,” He said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles.” (Mark 10:33)

“Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.” (Luke 9:44)

Jesus had warned his disciples about the whole ordeal but it seems they, like Judas Iscariot thought that probably He would slip out of their hands or do something and defeat the enemies. But this was for real and He would be dead in a very short time. He had said to the whole group, “Sit here while I pray.”

He later took those who were very closer to Him, Peter James and John. These were the people He took wherever He went. Before He left them for a place a little further and “begun to be deeply distressed and troubled” and He actually said out to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” He said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” (Mark. 14:34). Then He stepped a little further and fell down on the ground and prayed that if it was possible the hour might pass from Him. The cry came from the depth of His being, “Abba, Father,” He said, “Everything is possible for you. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36)

How could they be asleep and resting when their Master was going through such a time of torment? Yet the Bible says that they were resting and in fact asleep. Mark says Jesus spoke out to Peter and I can hear His voice almost quivering as He said to Peter when he found them sleeping again, “Simon,” He said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?” (Mark 14:37)

Could you not keep watch for one hour?  The Lord is now looking at the Church in the 21st century and asking the same question. Church are you asleep? Can’t you see the people I died for perish and yet I went through the suffering, the agony to pay the price for their salvation?

Are you sleeping to the extent that my people are being enslaved by the sins they commit, diseases and demonic oppression? Are you sleeping when wolves are devouring My sheep, is a very genuine question the Lord is asking the church today.

We must answer the question the Lord is asking. Especially if He comes the third time.

“Returning the third time, He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” (Mark 14:41)

Can you imagine? A third time and this time He has a very important emphasis, “Are you still sleeping and resting?”When My people are continuing to be sacrificed to demons and at the alter of the ancestral gods, you are still sleeping and resting? Busy in the politics of the church and struggling to make ends meet?

Have you forgotten the scripture that I shall supply all your needs according to the treasures I have in heaven? My people are being lied to and church you have not come out with the truth in the market place but remained in the four walls of your church building and as I said long ago, My people continue to perish for lack of knowledge!

“Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

What is your personal response?”