Several weeks ago, I was invited to speak at the annual Maundy Thursday service for my former home church. A special place where I served on staff for several years with my father. I am super excited to share in this special service for this family of believers. I love Easter week and I have always been passionate about the opportunity to gather and worship on Holy Thursday. There are so many unique and intimate teachings that are pillars to our faith and theology. I have organized and taught at many Maundy Thursday services over the past 25 years, and without failure God always ends up teaching me something that deepens my spiritual roots and strengthens my faith.
Each year when I re-read the accounts from the various Gospels, I seem to find a new thought that speaks directly to me. I find that I must try and connect with the emotion, fear, and uncertainty of these twelve men who are with Jesus in that upper room of a borrowed home. Men whose lives to this point have been transformed by spending 3 years following and living with Jesus. Men who have no idea the events that are about to unfold over the next 72 hours of their lives. Men with various personalities and gifts—some who are bold and confident, some who are still confused and questioning, some who hold serious doubt, some who are scared to death, and one who is a liar and turn-coat. All of them with a limited perception of God’s ultimate plan and Jesus ultimate power. There are so many unique interactions, so many questions, so many misunderstandings, so much human emotion displayed in the midst of Jesus’ power and deity. Subsequently, there are critical eternal lessons and teachings from Jesus (including the ultimate act of servanthood where Jesus washes their feet placing himself as their lowly servant), many of which these men would only begin to comprehend in the future.
As I was thinking and seeking what I wanted to share, God began to direct me to the events that occurred late that night. I began to focus past the lesson on servanthood, and past the intimate time of communion and singing—toward the events in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was at that moment that God spoke to me in my soul about the lesson he wanted me to hear during Easter week of 2022. I felt as if God just kept pointing me to one phrase and one passionate request from Jesus on that important night: “Watch and Pray!”
You can find the various historical accounts of this evening recorded by each of the Gospel authors. By Matthew, in the book of Matthew, chapter 26. By Mark, in the book of Mark, chapter 14. By Luke, in the book of Luke, chapter 22. And by John, in the book of John, chapters 17 and 18. Each inspired writer brings a very similar account and recording of the events; yet, each brings a uniqueness and perception that solidifies their unique personalities and relationship with Jesus. I really enjoy Matthew’s recording of the events in the Garden, and here are Matthew’s recorded words from Matthew, chapter 26 (NKJV).
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, [h]if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
We know the before, and we know the after. Before this we have the washing of feet and display of servanthood. We have the teachings of the new covenant and sharing of His body and blood. Shortly after we have Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s sword chop and eventual denial, and every single disciple abandoning Jesus, running scared for their lives. The night ends with Jesus being arrested and facing the crucifixion. This Easter, like never before, I have been drawn to the depth and importance of this time of agony in the Garden. I have been hit between the eyes with the request of Jesus to simply “Watch and Pray.” Once the worship is over, and the communion has been observed, and teaching has been shared—I have been reminded that authentic, life-changing power comes in the Garden. Good and Evil do battle in the Garden. Man’s will and God’s will come to a line in the sand in the Garden. Peace and assurance of what is in front of us is granted in the Garden.
I am then confronted with a stark reality. I do a poor job of dedicating myself to the time in the Garden. Maybe I am tired, maybe I am overconfident, maybe I think I know and understand, maybe I am just lazy—but I can assure you that if I am honest with myself —I have probably dozed off more lately (just like Peter and John) than I have heeded the “Watch and Pray” invitation.
God has also reminded me that there are most likely events and trials coming which I can’t foresee, won’t understand, and will change my life forever (The same scenario where Jesus’ disciples found themselves on that crucifixion eve). Events that are prodded by God’s divine will that most likely will not synchronize with what I think is best, or what I would like to see happen. Events spurred by choices of evil men, lost leaders, and a deceived culture. Events that will not be fair, may not appear just, and certainly will not classify as sanctified if I were to categorize them.
This week, for the first time in my life, I pondered a couple of questions. If while in the Garden, instead of falling asleep—Peter had spent time in prayer pleading his fear and emotion, praying for God’s will, praying for guidance and peace—would he have reacted the same?? Am I going to respond in the right way? Or will I react like Peter with emotion, anger, and vengeance? Will I respond like John and the others and run and hide?
We are facing wars and rumors of wars. Even the faithless are attesting to the implosion of common sense, history, and morality. We are in the middle of unprecedented economic crisis around the world. We are losing a sense of who we are as a civilization. Historical context, science, and facts are being replaced with fairy tale belief systems created to justify moral relativism and lost hope. And we certainly have a majority who have completely lost any Biblical or Spiritual compass for direction and truth. Frankly, we are living in a time that feels a bit like Good Friday. Darkness in the daytime. God seems to have turned his back. Death and suffering of the innocent. Evil displayed with arrogance and boldness like we have never seen. We watch the movie representations of Roman soldiers spitting in Jesus’ face and mocking him as they beat him, and we are appalled and shocked. Yet, we live in a time where it has become acceptable and even popular to spit on and mock any truth associated with Jesus, Christianity, the Church, or the Bible.
And the remnant? The Church? The Body of Christ’s response? It might be described as desperate at best. Too many believers are grabbing swords to lash out, running and hiding, or simply just denying the truth to save their own backsides. I become more convinced as I observe social media, read blogs, peruse the NYT best seller list, and try to identify with what is left of journalism—that we are living in a time when believers are failing to spend enough time in the Garden. Our hope seems to be centralized in government, politics, legislation, and imperfect human attempts at restoring our materialistic comfort zone. We are desperately hoping someone with political power will bring back the days of speaking the truth and standing for righteousness without risk or ridicule. But instead of falling on our knees in the Garden, we muster just enough courage to make a social media post relaying our fear and frustration to those who might listen.
JUST REMEMBER—that night in the upper room, when Jesus taught, washed their feet, and shared his body and blood with them—HE KNEW. He knew what was coming. He knew they weren’t ready for it. He knew that they were going to suffer, fail, and be scared. Which is exactly why he brought them to the garden and pleaded with them to
“Watch and Pray.”
He didn’t talk about the politics of Rome. He didn’t talk about the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders. He didn’t discuss the urgent need for the political restoration of Israel. He did not discuss the corruption of King Herod or the ungodliness of the Pilate or the immoral Roman culture. And while all of this was real, threatening, and evil—He just wanted them to
“Watch and Pray”
Oh my, how we have (too deeply) intertwined our hope in God with our hope in American politics and political leaders. Please don’t misunderstand me here. I love our country. I pray for America and our future. And I am a believer in the idea that God has blessed America because of our foundation of faith, our churches, and the fact that we have had a baseline of Biblical principles guide us for 200 years (despite our failures, sins, and faults). But our eternal hope and God’s eternal truth is not centered, nor singly anchored to America or any political party. God is at work today all over the world and in every tribe, country, and culture. God’s work and plan are surely more than we can comprehend with only very limited perception of what the future holds. I sense He is calling us to
“Watch and Pray”
I have been uniquely reminded and powerfully challenged this Easter season. I am not in charge. We are not in charge. Democrats nor Republicans are not in charge. We are not smart enough to fix it—and our current political system is certainly not going to fix it. We are not strong enough to use a sword against it. An entire generation of “woke” souls declaring immorality masked as love and acceptance will never produce the hope and answers they so desperately seek. I am reminded that our perception of what should be done and how justice should be served may not be God’s perception. I am convinced that in the coming days our emotions, fear, and anxiety will surely test faith to an extent we are not familiar with. And I am strengthened by these simple truths.
- God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
- God is in Charge.
- God still has the whole world in his hands.
- Justice will prevail. Righteousness will win in the end. Evil will be judged and judicated.
- God’s will shall be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
So what do I do?
Listen to solid teaching. Worship in Spirit and in truth like never before. Commune with believers and share in the Lord’s supper. Stand up for truth and teaching of the Scriptures in love. Serve and give of your time and money to mission and ministry that is of eternal value. Absolutely Yes to all!
Above all may we develop a renewed focus on the invitation and willingness to meet Jesus in the Garden…and meet Him there more often.
Watch and Pray!
Pour out your emotion and fear. Seek God’s guidance and will and be willing to accept it.
Watch and Pray!
Cry out with your heart and soul. Agonize over the peace and assurance you need to endure the unknown times ahead.
Watch and Pray!
Seek wisdom in how to react, speak, and respond. Seek the strength and power you need that is not within your own human grasp.
Watch and Pray!
And then listen. Listen more intently than ever before. You may hear what I have been hearing, which is simply Jesus calling me to keep coming to Garden to “Watch and Pray”
Thoughts of Another Traveler... 
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