Stay Awake with Me

By Tess Fontenot, Perth, Australia 

Editors’ note: 

Easter 2025 is unusual because of a coincidence: it is a rare occasion when followers of Western Christianity and Eastern Orthodox Christianity will all celebrate Easter 2025 on the same date, this coming Sunday, April 20. Recently, the Easter holiday has fallen on the same day in 2010, 2011, 2014, as the two dates coincide only when the full moon following the equinox counts as the first full moon after March 21 in the older Julian calendar (used by Eastern Orthodoxy) and the Gregorian calendar (the calendar used in the West). (https://www.pravmir.com/orthodox-easter-day-catholic-easter-year/) In case you’re interested, the next time East and West will celebrate Easter on the same date will be in the years 2028 and 2031 (https://schoolholidays.com.au/blog/easter-dates-next-10-years).

On this especially unifying Good Friday, we asked women’s ministry leader and missionary Tess Fontenot to share a devotional she wrote after spending time in the Holy Land at the actual site where Jesus had been on trial and falsely accused in the home of Caiaphas, the high priest. Here are her recent reflections on that time, followed by a Bible study, especially appropriate for us on Good Friday. 

I have had the privilege of going to the Holy Land a number of times. My husband Mike was leading and teaching as we toured the historical sites. I also had the great experience of teaching about some of the women in the Bible in the very places where they lived, such as Jericho, Magdala, and Bethlehem. To be standing in the sites of historical biblical events adds a depth and meaning to them that is both grounding and soul-stirring. 

The house of Caiaphas, also known as the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu, is located on the eastern slope of Mount Zion, just outside the Old City of Jerusalem. The church has four levels: Upper church, Middle church, Guardroom and Dungeon. The church is also known as "Peter of the Cockcrow" (Gallicantu) due to Peter's three denials of Jesus. In the courtyard of the church is a statue that recalls the events of Peter’s denial of Jesus. It shows Peter, the rooster that crowed, a maid, a servant, and a Roman soldier. On the roof of the church is a rooster on a black cross, a symbol of Peter’s denial of Christ before the cock crowed.  

The thought of walking down to a dungeon where Jesus was falsely accused in a sham trial by the most respected of God's leaders at the time, while at the same time, one of his chosen disciples was disowning him, was quite sobering. There is a heaviness of heart to tangibly realize in some small way what Jesus suffered. The understanding of the physicality of Jesus is greater when you are physically walking where he walked in a historical site. Our saviour was real and alive as a human. Matthew 26:57-67 and John 18:1-27 give us only a glimpse of what Jesus endured being arrested, bound, questioned, falsely accused, spat upon, and denied by those who were God's people, before being handed over to the godless leaders to decide his fate. I had a greater sense and realization of ALL the people that Jesus was giving his life for...those that loved him but were weak, those who were jealous of him and wanted him dead, and those who were indifferent but motivated by reputation to crucify him. And the cock crowed. This poignant fact of a cock crowing at that time brings reality into focus, just as it did for Peter. 

On this visit, our group walked down into the dungeon, had our own private meditation and prayer, then we sang together. The hymns of praise and gratitude echoed in this deep well and it sounded magnificent. It reminded us all that God's beauty comes from suffering and His greatest gift came at a huge cost. We all felt immensely moved and thankful beyond words for the infinite love and mercy of God!

Mark 14:32-42

Jesus’ One Request

Jesus’ only request he ever made to his disciples of a personal nature was, “Stay awake with me.” He was very vulnerable with them and asked for the one thing he needed: “Stay awake with me.”

There was something in his humanness that needed support from them. In his flesh, he needed physical and emotional support.

Jesus was the one wrestling with the devil, not wanting to die for humanity. He expresses his deep emotion of being overwhelmed…”to the point of death”. Does it get lower than this? That feeling of being overwhelmed and “I just want to die” …but not in the way God had planned…separated from Him.

Three times he prays. Don’t leave me alone here in the darkness. 

Then he resolutely goes forward to suffer and die.

My Thoughts

...While reading this in front of Caiphas’ house and going down to the cistern where Jesus was held overnight: 

I thought of how hard it is to stay awake spiritually. Not to become foggy and glassy-eyed, drifting into comfortable mindlessness.

I thought of how Jesus only ever asked for one thing for himself and how often I think of what I need from others. I need encouragement! (“after all, I’m a ‘words of affirmation’ love language person!”) I want people, especially those who know me well, to understand this and meet this need. I suppose Jesus felt the same longing toward the three friends he asked to come and stay awake with him. I need support from people, or I can’t really do the things that I’m supposed to do.

If I express those needs and am vulnerable, I have a greater expectation that they will be met. (“I’m not asking for my mind to be read…I’m saying it out loud!”)

How do I respond when others are dull, sleepy and unresponsive to my emotional needs? I too often shrink back into my insecure, fearful self, but not without a trace of resentment and hurt. I begin to shrink back, make excuses and let myself drift.

Here in this holy place, I began to see that…

• It is not my right to be encouraged or supported.
• I cannot make anyone else the reason I am not spiritually staying awake.
• And the real “honest-to-God” truth is that I am the one letting Jesus down…
  It is not that others are letting me down.
• The question I think He still asks me is…”Will you do this for me?  I need you to stay awake.”

Cell in which Jesus would have been held

He Stayed Awake, Prayed and Prepared

Jesus went forward without support, without encouragement, with no “words of affirmation” to face all the opposition Satan could muster… Never shrinking back…and not for Himself…but for “others.” Am I willing to imitate Him? Am I ready to follow? 

These were my thoughts in the cistern where He was imprisoned, preparing to go to the cross for me.

About the author

In January 1982, Mike and Tess Fontenot packed up their lives and their children and moved from the US to plant a church in Sydney, Australia. This year the Sydney Church of Christ celebrates its 43^rd year of existence, and the Fontenots are now officially retired from pulpit ministry. They have been pioneers in our movement of churches, respected leaders and teachers, training and raising up many people (including their three daughters) to follow Jesus faithfully as disciples and as men and women devoted to the service of fulltime ministry.