The longest awaited dawn is one that is preceded by a night of watchfulness over a sick family
member.
I sat alone – a solitary sentinel – in the darkened hospital room that was lit solely by the glow of the LED lights of the many buttons on several pieces of medical equipment. The whoosh whoosh sound from the various machines acted both as a comfort and as a constant reminder as to why I was here.
It’s challenging to see a loved one’s fever-wracked body in a tug-of-war hour after hour as it works hard to fight off infection. Throughout this particular battle, mine were the loving hands that, time and again, placed a cool compress onto the heated brow; mine were the many prayers - filled with both petitions and thanksgiving - that were whispered into the dim surroundings; and it was my hand that held the hand of the one in discomfort as an assurance of a steady presence so they knew that they knew they were not in this fight alone.
Many, including our Lord, have endured these ‘bitter watches of the night.’ Yet none were so bitter, or so vital, as was this particular night for Him.
Matthew 26:36-38 “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a placed called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of
death. Stay here and keep watch with me.””
Jesus, ‘sorrowful to the point of death,’ desired the comforting presence of His friends while He entreated His Father in prayer for another possible way for mankind to be reconciled to God other than for Him to have to walk the painful path to crucifixion.
Yet His friends could not stay awake to keep watch with Him while He agonized in prayer. Twice He returned from praying only to find them asleep. You can almost hear the deep disappointment He felt when He asked them in verse 40 of Matthew 26, “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?”
Jesus, full of compassion, knew how heavy the eyes of His friends were and He also knew the emotional challenges the next three days held in store for them. While the humanness in Him longed for someone to watch with Him, the Godliness in Him knew that no one could walk this path with Him. So He went quietly a little way away from them – for the third time – to once again converse alone with His Father.
In full submission to the Father’s will, Jesus prepared Himself to face the only way the sin-debt of mankind could be paid so that we could truly be in right relationship with Him. He then willfully, with purpose, accepted the path that led to His death.
And as dawn broke three days later, He arose from the grave the Victor over sin and death. We could now be free from the bondage of sin and would never again be alone or without hope.
Unlike Jesus’ human friends, we are assured that God never sleeps ….
Psalm 121:4 ”Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”
... and that He is a constant presence.
Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
What is it that you are facing alone today? Jesus longs for you to know the assurance of His constant presence and wants to accompany you along life’s journey, through all that it may hold. The choice is yours. He’s waiting for you.
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How
You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
member.
I sat alone – a solitary sentinel – in the darkened hospital room that was lit solely by the glow of the LED lights of the many buttons on several pieces of medical equipment. The whoosh whoosh sound from the various machines acted both as a comfort and as a constant reminder as to why I was here.
It’s challenging to see a loved one’s fever-wracked body in a tug-of-war hour after hour as it works hard to fight off infection. Throughout this particular battle, mine were the loving hands that, time and again, placed a cool compress onto the heated brow; mine were the many prayers - filled with both petitions and thanksgiving - that were whispered into the dim surroundings; and it was my hand that held the hand of the one in discomfort as an assurance of a steady presence so they knew that they knew they were not in this fight alone.
Many, including our Lord, have endured these ‘bitter watches of the night.’ Yet none were so bitter, or so vital, as was this particular night for Him.
Matthew 26:36-38 “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a placed called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of
death. Stay here and keep watch with me.””
Jesus, ‘sorrowful to the point of death,’ desired the comforting presence of His friends while He entreated His Father in prayer for another possible way for mankind to be reconciled to God other than for Him to have to walk the painful path to crucifixion.
Yet His friends could not stay awake to keep watch with Him while He agonized in prayer. Twice He returned from praying only to find them asleep. You can almost hear the deep disappointment He felt when He asked them in verse 40 of Matthew 26, “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?”
Jesus, full of compassion, knew how heavy the eyes of His friends were and He also knew the emotional challenges the next three days held in store for them. While the humanness in Him longed for someone to watch with Him, the Godliness in Him knew that no one could walk this path with Him. So He went quietly a little way away from them – for the third time – to once again converse alone with His Father.
In full submission to the Father’s will, Jesus prepared Himself to face the only way the sin-debt of mankind could be paid so that we could truly be in right relationship with Him. He then willfully, with purpose, accepted the path that led to His death.
And as dawn broke three days later, He arose from the grave the Victor over sin and death. We could now be free from the bondage of sin and would never again be alone or without hope.
Unlike Jesus’ human friends, we are assured that God never sleeps ….
Psalm 121:4 ”Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”
... and that He is a constant presence.
Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
What is it that you are facing alone today? Jesus longs for you to know the assurance of His constant presence and wants to accompany you along life’s journey, through all that it may hold. The choice is yours. He’s waiting for you.
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How
You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
RSS Feed