Words of Reflection
It is the night before Jesus’ death. A time for one final meal, one last celebration of the Passover with his closest friends. As he serves the meal, Jesus gives it new meaning that has been central to Christian worship ever since:
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”—Matthew 26:26-29 (NIV)
Jesus knows this is the last time he will sit at this table with his disciples. Even though there is a promise of a new table in a new kingdom one day, it does not diminish the sadness of this moment, a sadness that will reach further depths in what happens next.
After the meal, Jesus and his disciples make their way to Gethsemane, a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives. He takes Peter, James, and John with him to a secluded place in the garden and makes clear what is on his heart in this moment:
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”—Matthew 26:38 (NIV)
It is a difficult thing to imagine, the Son of God being sorrowful “to the point of death.” But Jesus is fully human, and as much as he knows the importance of what is about to happen, as much as he knows that it will not end with his death…the enormity of it all seems too much to bear. And what is it that he asks in this heartrending moment?
He asks his friends to stay with him and keep watch with him while he prays.
Much has been made through the centuries of the failure of Peter, James, and John to stay awake and do what Jesus has asked. It is incredibly sad that Jesus has to face that night alone, and I can only assume that the disciples (as usual) simply don’t understand the significance of what is taking place.
But we do. And knowing the significance of what the next few days mean, perhaps the best way to mark this Holy Thursday is to simply sit with Jesus and pray.
Stay with me here
Stay with me
And keep watch with me
Scripture for Meditation:
And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not what I want but what you want.” Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
—Matthew 26:39-42 (NRSV)
Song: Stay With Me Here
My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow
My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow
To the point of death
My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow
Stay with me here
Stay with me here
Stay with me
And keep watch with me
Stay with me here
And keep watch with me
Fernando Ortega
℗ 2017 Fernando Ortega
Questions for Contemplation:
How will you keep watch with Jesus today? As you sit with him, what images or words from Jesus’ last night before his death resonate most with you? How does that lead you into prayer?
Read and contemplate this quote from author and speaker Kathy Howard. Who does it bring to mind? Spend some time in prayer for them as they sit in their own Gethsemane.
“As I think about His solitude in that garden, I am reminded to pray for all of those who are sitting up in their own Garden of Gethsemane tonight. I think of anxious hearts that feel all alone while the rest of the world is sleeping away…Tonight, as I reread the final earthly prayer of Jesus, my soul needs to keep watch, as if to give to Him this small gesture of love.”—Kathy Howard
Sitting with Jesus is often a time of silent waiting. Spend some time in silent prayer as you allow God to prepare your heart for what the next few days hold.