Lenten Reader | Day 34

March 28th, 2026

“You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’

But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”

But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Mark 14:27-42

Keep Watch

Jesus gave his closest friends and disciples one simple task: keep watch. He wanted them to stay alert and observe continuously to guard against the impending danger that he knew would come later in the night – the crowd, led by Judas, which would arrest him. Jesus knew He needed to spend some time alone with His Heavenly Father as He was wrestling and agonizing over all that was to come, and he needed their support.

The disciples were walking side by side with Jesus and yet under pressure and as the hours grew long, they couldn’t even do the simple task of being fully with Him and keeping watch. Jesus came back to find them sleeping, not once, but three times.

What about us? How are we at keeping watch and focusing on Jesus?
Are we fully with him? The disciples were to keep watch for the physical danger that was coming. We are told to keep watch in the spiritual sense for when our time on earth comes to an end. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:42, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

In today’s world, there are many distractions and things to keep us from focusing on what is important and eternal. Sports, social media, television, family, friends, work, church activities – the list goes on as to what can and does take us away from being alert and guarding our hearts and minds from things that are not healthy or strengthening our walk with God.

Lent is a great time to do an honest assessment of where we are in our faith journey. We need to make sure that we stay vigilant and follow Jesus commands. We do this by spending more time with our Heavenly Father in Scripture, prayer, and worship. We too must keep watch and not “fall asleep” while we wait faithfully for the day the Lord will come.

Diana Skinner