It was in sleeping when Jesus bade him watch and pray that Peter had prepared the way for his great sin. All the disciples, by sleeping 714 in that critical hour, sustained a great loss. Christ knew the fiery ordeal through which they were to pass. He knew how Satan would work to paralyze their senses that they might be unready for the trial. Therefore it was that He gave them warning. Had those hours in the garden been spent in watching and prayer, Peter would not have been left to depend upon his own feeble strength. He would not have denied his Lord. Had the disciples watched with Christ in His agony, they would have been prepared to behold His suffering upon the cross. They would have understood in some degree the nature of His overpowering anguish. They would have been able to recall His words that foretold His sufferings, His death, and His resurrection. Amid the gloom of the most trying hour, some rays of hope would have lighted up the darkness and sustained their faith.

Det var ved at sove, dengang Jesus bød ham våge og bede, at Peter havde banet vejen for denne store synd. Alle disciplene havde ved at sove i denne skæbnesvangre time lidt et stort tab. Kristus kendte den ildprøve, som de måtte igennem. Han vidste, hvordan Satan ville arbejde for at lamme deres sanser, så de ikke var beredt til prøvelsen. Det var derfor, at han gav dem denne advarsel. Hvis disse timer i haven var blevet tilbragt med at våge og bede, ville Peter ikke have været overladt til at stole på sin egen svage styrke. Så ville han ikke have fornægtet sin Herre. Hvis disciplene havde set Kristus i hans sjælekval, ville de have været beredte til at se hans lidelser på korset. De ville til en vis grad have forstået, af hvad art hans overvældende sjælelige nød var. De ville have været i stand til at mindes hans ord, der forudsagde hans lidelse, hans død og hans opstandelse. Midt i den mest prøvende times mørke ville nogle håbets stråler have lyst op i mørket og have opretholdt deres tro.