In Jesus’ long prophecy just before the Passover meal, he had told his disciples that the most important thing that they had to do in the future was to keep watch. Now, Jesus and the disciples have reached a place called Gethsemane, and it’s no coincidence that he tells them to keep watch. They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” – Mark 14:32–34
In Jesus’ long prophecy just before the Passover meal, he had told his disciples that the most important thing that they had to do in the future was to keep watch. Now, Jesus and the disciples have reached a place called Gethsemane, and it’s no coincidence that he tells them to keep watch.
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” – Mark 14:32–34
Jesus went on ahead. He can’t have gone very far, because the three disciples were able to overhear at least part of his prayer, which is why it is recorded in the Gospels. The sorrow that overwhelmed Christ was no ordinary sadness. Jesus said that his distress physically gripped him “to the point of death.”
Great and terrible events were about to happen: events that would determine the fate of the world. Jesus tells his three friends to “keep watch.” In Greek, this means to stay awake in order to use your faculties to discern what is happening.
What did Jesus mean when he told his disciples to “watch”. He didn’t mean to watch for the coming of the mob so that they could protect him. Jesus meant to “watch” with him. He meant to “watch” what he was watching. What was Jesus “watching”?
He was watching his “Heavenly Father” so that he could get through this time and emerge victorious because he had done the Father’s will. Consider your own life, carefully. What are you watching? Let’s narrow down the question: Are your eyes fixed on Jesus?