Jesus thought that prayer was more important than much-needed sleep.
Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed (Mark 1:35).
How much easier it would have been to “sleep in” until a decent hour. The previous day’s work had lasted well into the evening.
That evening at sundown they brought to Him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons (Mark 1:32-34).
Yet, despite the night’s work, Jesus was up early for prayer. Of another occasion, Luke 6:12 tells us,
In these days He went out to the mountain to pray, and all night He continued in prayer to God.
Jesus was serious about prayer. He knew that it is more important to meet the needs of the spirit than to meet the needs of the body. It is not easy to discipline oneself to give time and attention to prayer. Jesus’ closest disciples discovered this fact, to their sorrow. Jesus wanted them to stay awake while He prayed in Gethsemane. They seemed unable to do so, though Jesus had made clear His heart’s pain and need. We may identify with their exhaustion, but we can also identify with Jesus’ disappointment.
And He came and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:37-38).