Do I Qualify as a Burden Bearer?

Words of an old chorus have been going through my mind: "Lord, lay some soul upon my heart and win that soul through me." Could it be that we seldom sing such songs because such a message is not the cry of our hearts?

When Jesus went to Gethsemane, He told most of the disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray" (Matt. 26:36). "Sit here!" They were not even told to pray, and certainly were not invited to share His burden! Rather than invite them to pray with Him, He simply told them to sit while He prayed.

Could it be that Jesus longed for companions who would share His burden, but He knew that most of them were not that close to Him?

So Jesus invited only the three of His closest disciples with the hope that they would share His passion. He took Peter, James, and John further with Him into the Garden and said, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me" (vs. 38).

I think they could hear His cries because He did not go far. "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will" (vs. 39).

Neither did He pray softly as these words describe His prayers on earth: He "offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears" (Heb. 5:7).

Could it be that Jesus still longs for companions who will share His burden, His broken heart over His Church, but He fears that even those closest to Him are not spiritually awake enough to pray with Him?

 Dear Jesus, make us worthy to share Your passion.   

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Couldn't you keep watch for one hour?" (Mark 14:37).