The Bible tells us about several instances where Jesus woke up his disciples. Let’s take a closer look at each of these occurrences.
The Calming of the Storm
One of the most well-known stories in the Bible is when Jesus calmed the raging storm while he and his disciples were on a boat. As the storm grew stronger, the disciples became more and more afraid for their lives. In desperation, they woke Jesus up and asked for his help.
Mark 4:39-40 tells us what happened next – “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’
Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?'”
The Transfiguration
Another time when Jesus woke up his disciples was during what is known as “The Transfiguration”. This event took place on a mountain where Jesus had taken three of his closest disciples – Peter, James, and John.
As they were on top of the mountain, Matthew 17:1-2 says that “There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.”
The disciples were amazed by what they saw but soon fell asleep. When they woke up, they saw that Jesus was alone.
The Garden of Gethsemane
In another instance where Jesus woke up his disciples, he was in deep distress as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane just before his crucifixion.
Mark 14:32-41 describes how “He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ he said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.'”
Jesus then went a little further and prayed alone, but when he returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping. He woke them up and urged them to stay awake and pray.
The Raising of Lazarus
Finally, we have the story of the raising of Lazarus in John 11:1-44. When Jesus heard that his friend Lazarus was sick, he purposely waited a few days before going to see him. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had already died.
As they approached the tomb where Lazarus was buried, Jesus told his disciples to roll away the stone covering the entrance. When they hesitated, Jesus told them that if they believed in him, they would see God’s glory.
After praying aloud for all to hear, Jesus shouted “Lazarus, come out!” And miraculously, Lazarus came back to life.
In conclusion, while there were only a few instances where Jesus physically woke up his disciples from sleep, each one was significant in its own way. These stories not only show us Jesus’ power but also his love for his disciples and all those who believe in him.