In the garden of Gethsemane, on the night before his crucifixon, Christ Jesus found the disciples asleep and said to Peter, "What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" (Matt. 26:40.) By these words did Jesus mean that the disciples were to stay awake only to give him human companionship? Did not his words have a deeper meaning, expressed in the injunction which immediately followed, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation"?
This admonition shows the importance of watching. One who has been awakened by the voice of Truth watches continually for the control of divine Life and Love to take possession of his consciousness and destroy all erroneous thinking.
Watching for the unfoldment of Christ, Truth, in consciousness signifies obedience to Jesus' counsel and in a measure shows our gratitude for his great human sacrifice. Watching thus, we are inspired with a clearer, fuller realization of God's presence and of man's unity with the Father. Jesus spent many hours in prayerful watching and working. If we follow his example in this, we shall be able to emulate more easily and faithfully his mighty works.
