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The Second Watch (9 p.m.)
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t nine p.m. or dusk, the second watch began, lasting until midnight. This appears to be the watch of spiritual preparation, when JeIt was in prayer on the Mount of Ol- sus had the custom of goives, during the second watch, that ing to the Mount of Olives Jesus overcame Satan and subjected to pray in the weeks leading up to his death. It was his own will to that of his Father. a custom that he carried on right up to the night before his crucifixion. “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him” (Luke 22:39). During this watch, from dusk until midnight, Jesus taught his disciples the importance of prayer in order to escape the corruption of the world and to be faithful to him until the end. “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives (Luke 21:36,37). This was the watch when Jesus exhorted Peter and the other disciples to pray, knowing that their faith would be severely tested a few hours later.