As Jesus prepares to face his death on the cross, he goes with his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.

“Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane” by Heinrick Hofmann, 1890.  (This was given to my mother on her second birthday by her Sunday School teacher.)

Jesus says to his disciples,  “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch with me.”  Jesus then goes a little farther, falls on his face, and struggles desperately with his own human desires and the will of his Heavenly Father. He returns to find the disciples sleeping and asks, “Could you not watch with me for one hour?” (Matthew 26:40)

Jesus needed the presence of his close friends and companions in ministry.  He needed their support, their devotion, their strength.  He needed them to “KEEP WATCH” with him!  I wonder what the tone of his voice was…frustration?…disappointment?.. loneliness?…despair?…deep sadness?  I wonder.

What might “keeping watch” with Jesus mean for us today?  When I think about my own life, my ministry, it seems the most meaningful and profound moments are those when I was simply “present” with and for someone, praying for them, holding them in some way in their time of need.

Moments like these were the joy of my life, and for me they were what it means to “keep watch” with Jesus.

Pondering….

What might “keeping watch” with Jesus look like for you?

Are we feeling a little sleepy? Sacked out??

nk