Even if Jesus had gotten together all of his prayer lists on that night and sent letters to the whole world asking them to pray for him, those prayers would not have changed the circumstances. Jesus did not ask his close friends that they themselves take the bitter cup he was going to drink. He just asked that they pray with him. He wanted their support.
Surprisingly, even at a time when the world was still perfect and without sin, there was still something in the Garden of Eden that was not good. "It is not good for the man to be alone." How strange! Even God's immediate presence was not enough for Adam. Even though he enjoyed direct access to his creator, Adam still felt alone. How is that possible?
Yes, there is a kind of loneliness that only God can relieve-an emptiness that dwells in the depths of our experience, and no one else can touch it or fill it. But there is a second kind of loneliness that can only be relieved by another human creature like ourselves. It is not relieved when we have fun together, chat, exchange ideas, or share our feelings and experiences with others. It is not even relieved in a person when we are praying for them. It is filled only when we stand beside that person in the hour when they are seeking the face of the only one who can change circumstances and hearts.
I think there is no closeness between friends, between brothers and sisters, that can compare with the closeness we find when together we hear the voice of God and together we walk in his presence.
Jesus' experience in Gethsemane shows that even he knew the kind of loneliness that only his friends could disperse. With his soul bitter to the point of death, he asked them to watch with him. He was not asking them to change the circumstances, to help him avoid the cross. But he did want them to support his tired arms, like Hur and Aaron did for Moses.
Do we stand beside our friends in their difficult hour, supporting them and sharing their hardships? Or do we stand off to the side, praying for them but not praying with them?
May God help us to be like Aaron and Hur in the lives of those dear to us. We can give them a rock to sit on, lift up their hands, listen to them when they pray, and watch with them. Because it is not good for them to be alone.
- 9 APRIL -