Watch and Pray

Matthew 26: 36-46

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.

38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.

41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.

44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.

46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

 

 

            Jesus asked his close friends to watch and pray for him in his sorrow. He went to commune with his Father about his impending suffering, agonizing over the knowledge of what he was about to experience. And he asked his disciples to watch and pray. He desired their presence, their love, their sacrifice of time and effort to hold him up in this way.

            And they fell asleep. He came back twice and asked for their dedication and encouragement. He told them of his neediness in this conflicted hour. His agony must have been evident on his beautiful, weary face. They fell asleep again.

            Was it too much to ask that they surrender their exhausted minds to pray for him? Was it simply too late at night, too great a request to expect them to focus their hearts on his broken one? They didn’t know, they weren’t aware of what he would soon endure. They had no idea how short their time with him was drawing. How were they to know how desperately he desired their love, how important it was that they stay awake and pray?

            His request was clear, watch and pray. His heart was pure, his love enduring, his word true. Wasn’t that enough? He had a habit of asking difficult requests: drop everything and follow me, drink of me, taste my glory and suffering, accept those who are different, believe in the impossible, step out in faith. They saw the results of following him, trusting his message enough to act. This wasn’t a request steeped in difficulty, requiring great faith, overcoming fear. It was his honest plea to them, “Watch and pray.”

            They had community. They weren’t alone in their exhaustion. Jesus invited three to accompany him. He asked them to band together, watch over each other, interdependently lock their minds in service, support each other as they honored him.

            Opportunities were abundant: to obey, lifting Jesus’ burden of this lonely walk, to encourage, loving his weary soul through this dark, shameful night, to reach the presence of God himself, to call angels to minister, to connect with the Savior in his time of need, to minister themselves to God.

            They were an intimate part of each other’s journey as well. They could’ve tasted the sweetness of trinity, three voices lifting in united benediction, three hearts attending his need for ministry. Opportunity was present for the holiness of community to share weakness, and experience grace.

            I know the failure of Peter and John. I’ve tasted the disappointment in myself when my attentions have drifted off. My eyes have focused on life’s wounds, my heart has been consumed with self-pity. Impatient without solutions for my problems, frustrated by how circumstances affect me, I disregard his simple request. I miss the vision he puts before me. My heart skips over the healing his truth offers.

            I hear the tender calling of his beautiful voice. I feel the gentle rousing of his hand on my shoulder. “Watch and pray.” His grace penetrates my self-centered dreams. I feel the unending adoration in his gaze, pulling my focus back. He loves unconditionally, forgives completely, and welcomes the renewal of my eyes and heart. “Watch and pray.”

We have moments of weakness, falling asleep exhausted from the weight of our journeys. We will have times our infallible minds drift away from the focus of ministry, swallowed up in the daily worries of our own little worlds. Still, choose with me to release fear, and engage in the love we are called into. “Watch and pray.”