Devotion: Gethsemane

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” Matthew 26: 36-38

As I enter Gethsemane in my imagination, a heavy darkness folds in like a cold and unwelcome mist. I realize I have been here before – every time I thought I was alone. Jesus asked his closest friends to enter this moment with him. He pleaded with them to Stay Awake with him. It was all they could do to witness and try to understand.

I have a friend in the hospital right now who seems to be feeling much the same way. After a series of bouts with cancer, heart attacks, surgery, pneumonia, and lots of other big terms you only seem to hear on the Critical Care floor of a hospital – he sits alone in that chair. Visitors come and go – wife, children, grandchildren, friends, neighbors, nurses, doctors. Yet he seems to be the observer. Machines gurgle and click with oxygen and fluids and medicine. Voices float in from the hallway.

Stay Awake with me, his eyes seem to say. Speaking is burdensome for him. His wife and daughter are exhausted – yet he stays awake. Stay Awake. Keep vigil. Be with me. Pay attention.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and staff – they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

This is our promise – we will never, ever be alone. I don’t know what valley or hill you are walking today. But know this – GOD never, ever leaves you alone. GOD suffers with you and celebrates with you. Amen.

This devotion is written by Patty Forsberg.

If you would like to serve as a member of the Sheridan Lutheran Writing Team and help to write devotions based on the text for the weekend, contact Amy Wagner.

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