As we approach the beginning of Holy Week, I have been thinking and reflecting on the words “keep watch”. You may remember that this was Jesus’ plea to his disciples when he entered the Garden of Gethsemane; the place where he would be in agonising prayer with his Father that he might not have to endure what was before him. But his disciples were exhausted. This had been a week of twists and turns, the joyous entry into Jerusalem with the crowds going wild with excitement, the teaching in the Temple then the money lenders being turned out in anger by Jesus. Then a change in atmosphere, a feeling of danger, uncertainty at the supper they had just had, with Jesus saying strange frightening things about betrayal and leaving them. Today people talk about their lives being a rollercoaster, experiencing emotional overload, I hope that life is not like that for you at the moment, but I’m sure you can recall when it has been and how exhausting this can be. Well I imagine it was like that for the disciples, as soon as they sat down, tiredness overtook them and they just fell asleep. Luke tells us that they were full of grief, maybe they were finally recognising how events were going and they must have felt powerless and very afraid. Jesus had asked them to be with him, he knew they could not change things but he just needed them there, to keep watch, to be with him.

Some of us may have experienced the comfort of another ‘keeping watch’ and this can take several forms. It may be knowing a loved one is being cared for in hospital giving us the time to gather our strength and renew ourselves for the next day. I have great cause to be thankful for the time when the Marie Curie nurses kept watch over my dear first husband Paul while he spent his last days at home. I was able to sleep quite exhausted at night knowing there was someone who did not sleep but with such devoted care watched over Paul all night. Keeping watch is also being aware , being alert to the needs of others, just going that little bit further when the response to ‘how are you?’ is ‘I’m fine’ isn’t very convincing.

As I thought about keeping watch I thought of a lighthouse and how the great beam of light sweeps across the land and sea. Lighthouses are built on solid rock and are there not only as a warning of danger, rocks or currents that could easily wreck ships in that area, but also as landmarks too, to help navigation, a welcome light to help the ship’s captain plan his onward journey with safety and confidence. John called Jesus ‘the Light of the World’, the one who would come to sweep away the darkness in people’s lives bringing the light of love and hope to show them a new way of living.

But this light is now faltering, Jesus has to face a terrible ordeal and only he alone can do this. No one wishes to die at thirty and no one wishes to die upon the cross. Sometimes when the word courage is used it suggests a resolute fearlessness, but real courage does not mean not being afraid. It means being terribly afraid and yet doing the thing that has to be done. The light finally went out
when Jesus died on the cross and for those who were there, it must have felt as if everything had ended, no hope, no coming of God’s kingdom, just emptiness.

However, we know that the cross was not the end, it was the beginning of new life that only trust, obedience and amazing love could bring to birth. The light shone again, more brightly than ever and this time the darkness could not overcome it. As we begin our journey through Holy Week, may we feel the strength and love of God sustaining us for our life’s journey in the certain knowledge that God remains with us, and sends others to keep watch over us at the times of our trials and suffering. His promise remains true, he will not forsake us because he is with us now and will be for evermore.