Keep Watch With Me

Matthew 26:38  Then he said to them ‘My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’

    I have often marveled at how Jesus is portrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane in the movie “The Passion of the Christ”.  John Caviezel is hands down one of the finest actors to ever portray Christ in that dramatic role.  What I find compelling in this movie scene is the raw emotion displayed.  The words of Matthew 26 are no longer left to my imagination. Rather, they are graphically displayed in a manner I could scarcely have imagined.  All the emotion, the frailties each of us knows so very well in ourselves is right there in front of us.  To see what is meant by the words ‘My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death” is humbling and more than a little frightening.  Each and every time I watch the movie “The Passion” I struggle with this scene.  It’s a scene that reaches deep into me for it provides a glimpse of the struggle Jesus faced at that moment in His life on earth and ministry.  The moment is a very teachable moment Jesus shares with His disciples.  Peter, James and John were the same disciples he chose to share The Transfiguration with.  His closest friends were gathered around Him.  These three disciples had been with Jesus in times of good. And now He wanted them by His side when He was struggling the most.

    Fear of the unknown, of what comes next is a very strong.  And all the more so for those facing the end of their life.  The compelling nature of Matthew 26:38 brings to mind the pleadings of the Author of Psalm 69 verses 1&2. Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck, I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.  These two references point all of us to our one great hope when our situation seems hopeless. Our Father in Heaven is there by our side always.  He is our hope, our rock, our stronghold against the storms of life.  He is waiting there with open arms for us, when our time here has come to an end.  I have been blessed with having been near to friends who have been strong believers at the end of their time on earth. Each has passed on with dignity, hope, and a blessed assurance that in the end, they have nothing at all to fear.  And this condition of “fearlessness” exists because Jesus went before us.  He suffered the cross for our sake so that we would not live with the overwhelming fear of death. Our souls can be at peace and not be overwhelmed.  The flood waters will not overwhelm us and neither will they sweep us away.

    Prayer: Lord and Giver of Life we who are easily frightened seek You in earnest when we are troubled. Often we are afraid of what we should not be afraid of.  We too often forget the words of encouragement and hope that are salted through out Scriptures. We are weak. Help us to be strong Father.  Give us the strength and the faith to stand firm against our fears.  Help us to overcome our fears.  We ask this in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, who has gone before us and stands waiting for us to come home, Amen.