September 4

He cometh, and findeth them sleeping. — Mark 14:37

One of the saddest elements in the Gethsemane experience was the disappointment of Jesus in His disciples.

He asked the three most loved of them to be near Him in His great agony. He craved the help of their sympathy. But when He came back to them, hoping to be strengthened by their love, He found them asleep.

A legend of the Brittany peasants tells how the robin got its red breast. As Jesus was being led out to Calvary, a bird, pitying Him, flew down and plucked one thorn from the crown of thorns He wore. The blood spurted from the wound and splashed the bird’s breast.

Ever since, the peasants say, the robin has had a spot of red on its breast in remembrance of its pity for the Master that day. The disciples had it in their power that night, not to pluck thorns from their Master’s brow, but to strengthen Him by their sympathy.

They missed their opportunity, however, and only made Gethsemane harder for Him.