March 28

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. — Matt 26:30 BSB

It seems surprising that Jesus could leave the upper room singing when He knew what lay ahead of Him. But the Epistle to the Hebrews explains it: it was for the joy set before Him that He endured the cross, disregarding its shame.

We may not fully understand the mystery of Jesus’ struggle in Gethsemane, but we can still learn lessons from it. One lesson is that the only true refuge in times of sorrow is prayer. Another is that it’s right to ask God to spare us from great trials. And another is that we can help our friends in their suffering through our sympathy.

Jesus expected strength from His disciples to help Him endure. One of the saddest parts of the garden story is their failure to stay awake and watch with Him. The Master’s final words, “Sleep on now, and take your rest,” offer a lasting lesson. By that time, the traitor was approaching, and they had lost their chance to watch. Opportunities missed cannot be regained.