Slipped My Mind

Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”  Matthew 26:38  NASB

Keep watch – We know the story all too well.  Yeshua makes a request that the disciples are unable to handle.  In spite of his obvious need and emotional state, the disciples all fall asleep.  When the time for moral support of their Master finally came, none of them were up to the task.

Perhaps we need to be transported to the Garden on that night to see how we would fare.  These men spent every day with Yeshua for three years.  He poured out all of His teaching, coaching and compassion on them and they usually benefited from his efforts.  There were times, of course, when what Yeshua did and taught simply escaped them.  But his commitment to them was demonstrated again and again.  Now the moment arrives when he faces the single most difficult event of his life; not the crucifixion (for he initiated the events that lead inevitably toward crucifixion), but the separation from the Father.  The Garden would seal the agreement. His voluntary sacrifice for the enemies of the Father.  He stared into a hell we will never be able to fathom because we have never known the unique, intimate relationship that he had with God.  All of that was about to change.

The Greek verb chosen to describe his request (grēgoréō) means “to arise or arouse.”  Here the context shows that Yeshua is asking his disciples to stay awake.  But there is more to this than just keeping your eyes open.  The verb carries a metaphorical sense of being watchful of danger or threat, especially in the spiritual realm where mental confusion or moral slacking can easily lead to attack and defeat.  We find the same word used in 1 Thessalonians 5:6 and 1 Peter 5:8 where spiritual vigilance is in mind.  Paul considers this action a duty, not an option (1 Corinthians 16:13 and Colossians 4:2).

When Yeshua makes this request, it is not merely a call to guard duty.  It is a call to intercession.  Yeshua is not afraid that the soldiers will come to arrest him.  He knows that they will.  His request is a plea that those who are closest to him will enter into the trauma of this moment and beseech the Father on his behalf for courage, strength, and the will to surrender to the Father’s plans.

Do you want to know how you would have reacted?  Just ask yourself this question:  When you were last presented with a request for intercession on behalf of someone who faced life’s pain, did you quickly say, “Yes, I’ll pray for you” and just as quickly let the commitment slip from your “To Do” list?  Did you really intercede with watchful, deliberate attention, or did you throw a quick sentence toward heaven and turn to the things most pressing in your life?  And one more question, if you will allow it.  This Greek verb is not just about mental stamina.  It is about physical response.  “Remain here and watch” means to do what is necessary to lift another one up.  And that brings forward the second question.  Was your commitment to intercede followed by substantive action on behalf of the other?  Did you do what you could do, or did you pray, “God, take care of this need (so that I won’t have to)?”  James makes the duty quite clear.  If you have the ability to do something (anything) and you don’t do it, you have failed to stay awake.

Topical Index: watch, grēgoréō, intercession, Matthew 26:38