Watchfulness and alertness have always been accepted as most desirable qualities, provided they are accompanied by wise and prompt action whenever the need arises. A sixteen-year-old daughter of a lighthouse keeper in Australia was recently presented with a plaque, not only in recognition of her own fortitude under adverse circumstances, but also as a mark of grateful acknowledgment of the work done by lighthouse keepers generally in their devotion to duty, their watchfulness, and their love of their fellow men in helping to keep the sea lanes safe. Every sincere thinker finds the necessity for this work of watchfulness, in accordance with Jesus' admonition (Mark 13:37), "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." Jesus also gave us several parables illustrating the necessity for watchfulness.
In the struggle against adverse conditions and the aggressive mental suggestions presented by mortal mind, how often do we feel that we have reached the limit of human endurance and patience! We may ask what Jesus' method was under such circumstances, for the Bible tells us that he "was in all points tempted like as we are" (Hebr. 4: 15). Mary Baker Eddy refers to this fact in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 30): "Born of a woman, Jesus' advent in the flesh partook partly of Mary's earthly condition, although he was endowed with the Christ, the divine Spirit, without measure. This accounts for his struggles in Gethsemane and on Calvary, and this enabled him to be the mediator, or way-shower, between God and men."
Mark tells of Jesus' experiences in the garden of Gethsemane when he was about to be betrayed by one of his own disciples. He knew that this would lead to his trial and crucifixion, and he sought for guidance and strength to meet the ordeal by communion with his Father-Mother God. At the same time, in the companionship of his closest followers he expected some human consolation. Instead, he found that his disciples slept. Could anything have been more discouraging and desolating? Three times he returned to them and on each occasion found them in the same condition. The third time Jesus said (Mark 14:41), "Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come." The translation by Edgar J. Goodspeed of the passage just quoted from the King James Version of the Bible gives plenty of food for thought. It reads: "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough of this! The time has come.... Get up, let us be going. Look! here comes my betrayer!" Other translations of the New Testament give a similar meaning to the passage.
