Morning Manna | Matthew 26:38 | Tarry ye here, and watch with me

Matthew 26:38

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

This morning, before opening my Bible, I asked the Lord to speak to my heart. I was in need of direction from Him, and these words gave me clear instruction: “Tarry ye here, and watch with me.”

When we’re in a dark hour—when the Lord has revealed hard truths to us, and we sense something painful just ahead—His gentle command still remains: “Tarry ye here, and watch.” But here is the blessing and consolation: “With me!” We may pass through questions, doubts, fears, and even betrayal—but all of it, with Him.

Only the three disciples who walked closest with our Lord were permitted to witness the scene laid out before us. He allowed them near enough to observe, near enough that they, in a small measure, became partakers of His sorrow(Luke 22:45). I couldn’t help but be reminded of Philippians 3:10:“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

These men became witnesses—and partakers—of their Lord’s suffering. They endured the long night, the betrayal, the crucifixion, and the three days of silence and despair while their Master lay in the grave. They made it through because of the power of the third day—the resurrection! Had it not been for our risen Lord, we wouldn’t be having this conversation today. All would have been lost. Sorrow would hold no hope. Suffering would offer no answer. But because Christ is risen, even death itself—and all the horror leading up to it—is now painted in the bright colors of hope.

In this hour, if you long to draw nearer to Christ, to know Him more fully, you will be permitted into scenes of sorrow—hours of watchful, burden-bearing prayer. And in those hours, look to your Savior. See how He bears the weight of the world. Examine His heart for you and for the lost around you. Listen to the prayers He offers on your behalf. Take note of His fervency. Tarry as long as you can and watch! This is what those three disciples saw—and how rich we are because they reported to us the agony of Jesus in the garden!

You, too, can be a blessed witness of your Savior. And when the dark night is over, you’ll testify to us of who He is—how He cares, how He bears, and how He shares not just glimpses of agony, but of glorious victory.

Don't rush through, but tarry and watch. And be careful to let your eyes take in all they can. Let your mind be sharp, capturing every scene. Let your ears be open to every word whispered by the Holy Spirit, and to every verse of Scripture that lights your path in the darkness. One day, these will be treasures—not just for your soul, but for others God allows you to share them with.

We’ve considered the instruction. Now let’s dwell on the sweet consolation of this verse: “With me.”

Yes, the disciples experienced great sorrow, but nothing compared to that of our Lord. They knew betrayal, but not like He did. Each of them went on to suffer: Peter was crucified, John was boiled in oil, James was beheaded. But even in death, they did not suffer as He did. Our Lord suffered in body, mind, and soul. They suffered in body alone, their minds given peace, their consciences strengthened by the finished work of Christ.

Christ bore the weight of Calvary alone. He faced the wrath of God’s cup alone. The disciples were only witnesses, spectators—allowed a taste of the sorrow, but never required to swallow it. What we share in His sufferings is nothing more than the aroma of suffering, for He has borne the heavy end of the cross.

We watch with Him. We suffer with Him. We are persecuted with Him. And in all these things, He is with us, and we are with Him.

And that makes even the most agonizing moments bearable.