Any Christian with even a passing knowledge of Jesus’ suffering and death is well aware of the “big things” that our Savior endured as our holy Substitute.  And make no mistake about it, the big things are indeed big! 

However, there are many “little things” that occurred along the way – lesser known and lesser noted things – that carry great significance as well.  During these weeks of the Lenten season, we’ll take note of some of those lesser things that carry large significance.

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Four simple words; a very simple message: “Keep watch with me.”

What significance do Jesus’ words bear?  The context in Matthew’s account certainly provides some insight. 

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.”  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with me.”  (Matthew 26:36-38)

As true God, Jesus had no questions or reservations about what he needed to do to redeem the sinners of the world.  But as true Man, the concept was so daunting that it was almost more than he could bear.

He shared his innermost feelings with Peter, James and John: “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”  And then he begged them: “Stay here and keep watch with me.” 

As God, Jesus needed no one beside his Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit; as Man, Jesus longed for human connection with his disciples who loved him.  He longed to have those men closest to him provide some emotional support.

The depth of Jesus’ sorrow and troubledness was demonstrated by some of the very next words in the Gospel which described the posture he fell into as he prayed.  Jesus’ body was prostrate on the ground; his face was buried in the dirt.  His angst dropped him as low as he could physically go, and also drove him to the lowest level of humility and the basest level of supplication. 

The Man part of him begged the Heavenly Father to find another way to rescue sinners.  Some other way!  Any other way!

But there was no other way.  As Jesus himself had stated to his disciples not long before this, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).  It had to be Jesus; it had to be this horrific way.

Jesus acknowledged the fact with his repeated words to his Father this evening, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

But Jesus words of pleading with his disciples, “Keep watch with me,” were much more than simply the Man, Jesus, begging his disciples to emotionally support him. They were also the words of the Son of God, Jesus, begging his disciples of that evening (and of all time) to stay tuned in … stay connected … stay attentive to what he was doing for them.  (For us!)

Unfortunately, Peter, James and John failed both Jesus, the Man and Jesus, the Son of God.  The busyness and length of the day, the Passover Meal and the wine, and the high emotion of the previous hours sapped them of their ability to stay awake.  They weren’t present, and they weren’t observant.  In their weariness, they lost their focus.

As we begin our Lenten journey, Jesus words still speak to us: “Keep watch with me.” 

Keep watch and see the frailty of Jesus, true Man … wrapped in flesh so he could suffer, bleed and die.  See also the determination of Jesus, true God … completely committed to accomplishing what must be accomplished.

Keep watch and see the love.

Keep watch and see the faithfulness.

Keep watch and see the Scriptures perfectly fulfilled.

Keep watch and see the almost unbelievable agony – fully necessary to fully redeem sinners.

Keep watch and see the atoning sacrifice fully completed.

Like the disciples, our physical and spiritual eyes may be heavy and our minds and hearts inclined toward slumber.  Perhaps even apathy.  But Jesus begs us, “Keep watch with me.”

Because there is much for us to see.  It’s actually eye-opening and exhilarating stuff!  Even some of the seemingly “little things.”

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Matthew 26:36-46
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.”  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with me.” 

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.”

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.  “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

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.”

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.  So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

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