Having discovered the astonishing benefits of the Night Watches, we will now turn to what the New Testament describes as the Fourth Watch – a time of wonder, divine intervention and encouragement.

What is the Fourth Watch?

The Romans divided the night into four military watches in the first century:

• First Watch – 6.00 PM to 9.00 PM.
• Second Watch – 9.00 PM to 12.00 AM
• Third Watch – 12.00 AM to 3.00 AM
• Fourth Watch – 3.00AM to 6.00 AM.

The fourth watch was the final watch of the night, immediately before daybreak. It was one of the most exhausting periods, when the ones keeping watch would have been physically depleted.

That is also significant for us spiritually. The night is nearing its end, yet the new day has not fully appeared. Darkness remains, but dawn is approaching.

Fourth Watch in the Scriptures

The fourth watch appears in the New Testament in several important passages and provides a fascinating picture of

• Divine intervention
• Revelation
• Transition and
• Deliverance from the midst of darkness.

When we are at our weakest, God is still working.

The darkest hour before the new day can be the setting for an unexpected encounter with Him.

Joseph and the Early Hours of the Morning

God told Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt for the safety of the child. He got up while it was still night, took the child and His mother and quietly left for Egypt, Matthew 2:14.

Herod was about to command all the male children two-years old and under be killed, in Bethlehem and the surrounding area. This was after three wise men from the Near East told him that a King of the Jews had been born.

That posed a very real threat to Herod. His family had only converted to Judaism, therefore, he was not a legitimate Jewish monarch.

This incident reminds us that God watches over His people, for we are His, 1 Peter 2:9, bought with a price, 1 Corinthians 6:20.

He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep, Psalm 121:34.

Jesus Walking on Water – Matthew 14, Mark 6

When Jesus walked on water was another amazing fourth watch incident.

First Jesus sent His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee, then He went up the mountain alone to pray.

The disciples found themselves struggling against strong winds and waves. They were exhausted, frightened and far from land.

Then, in the fourth watch Jesus came to them walking on the water, Matthew 14:25.

They were terrified. It was a ghost! After all, no one walked on water!

Jesus reassured them. Take courage, is it I; do not be afraid, Matthew 14:27.

Impulsive Peter

Peter challenged Jesus. Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.

Jesus told him to come.

Peter climbed out of the boat and walked on water. Amazing!

But then, Peter shifted his attention from Jesus to the wind and the waves.  Fear instantly replaced faith. He began to sink.

Peter let circumstances overwhelm him.

Jesus reached out and rescued Peter.

As soon as they entered the boat, the wind ceased.

The Lesson

The storm had not caught Jesus by surprise. He knew exactly where His disciples were and came to them in their darkest and most exhausting hour.

Much later, Peter wrote, Beloved do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you, 1 Peter 4:12.

It is important to remember that Jesus:

• Sees the storm
• Is with us in the storm
• Is greater than the storm
• Knows the end from the beginning, Isaiah 46:10.

How often do we put a ‘but’ into the things the Lord says to us?

Instead of fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of faith, Hebrews 12:2.

Much later, Peter wrote, Beloved do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you, 1 Peter 4:12.

Circumstances may be frightening, but our focus must remain on Christ. He will not fail us nor forsake us, Hebrews 13:5.

Jesus and the Night Watches

Jesus regularly withdrew from the crowds to pray and spend time in communion with the Father – often throughout the night, Luke 6:12.

This is particularly significant when we consider the events surrounding the immediate period before Calvary.

Gethsemane – Matthew 26

Following the Passover supper, Jesus took His disciples out to the Garden of Gethsemane, on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives.

He was entering a valley like no other. He made Him who knew to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus then took Peter, James and John aside and asked them to watch with Him.

This was a night of profound spiritual significance – but they repeatedly and understandably fell asleep.

In Gethsemane, Jesus surrendered Himself fully to the Father’s will: Not My will, but Yours, be done, Luke 22:42.

Darkest Moment

Gethsemane, the oil press, became the threshold between the old and the new. What was to be the darkest moment in human history was, in fact, the only pathway to humanity’s redemption.

What Satan meant for evil God meant for good in order to bring about this present result, Exodus 50:20.

What had been lost in the Garden of Eden, Genesis 3, was restored through the Saviour of the world.

Peter and the Fourth Watch – Matthew 26

Another significant event occurred during the night surrounding Jesus’ arrest.

Jesus had told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed.

Peter was adamant that he would not desert the Master, as the other disciples also said, Matthew 26:35.

Peter was bold enough to try to discover what happened after Jesus was arrested.

Three times Peter denied knowing Jesus.

Then the rooster crowed announcing the new day, just as Jesus had said.

The Lesson to Us

This incident teaches us:

• The danger of self-confidence and pride
• The reality of human weakness.

However, human failure is not necessarily final for there is real power in God’s forgiveness and restoration.

The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness, Lamentations 3:22,23.

Grief at the Grave – Matthew 28

Finally, there was another extraordinary incident in the fourth watch.

As dawn was breaking, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb where their Lord’s body had been laid.

Instead of a body, they encountered an angel with news too great to grasp.  He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said, Matthew 28:6.

John’s Gospel gives us further details. Mary Magdalene returned to the empty tomb and encountered two angels.

Then, the risen Lord, Himself, John 20.

Jesus commissioned her to go and tell the disciples who she had seen.

Instead of devastating defeat it was the greatest victory:

• Death was overcome
• The tomb was empty
• A completely new day of covenant had begun.

The fourth watch had given away to an astounding dawn.

The Fourth Watch is Not a Formula

We should not try to turn the fourth watch into a formula, or presume that God only acts at a particular hour.

Like the night watches, the fourth watch reminds us that God can:

• Intervene when circumstances appear impossible
• Bring deliverance when we have reached the end of our strength
• Reveal Himself in unexpected ways
• Prepare us during quiet seasons
• Transform us through difficult nights
• Turn defeat into the ultimate victory
• Transition us into a whole new day.

God is ever working out His eternal and covenantal purpose.

It may feel as though the night has gone on too long – but dawn is coming.

• Do not despise the fourth watch
• Remain expectant
• Dawn is coming.

Sometimes, Jesus comes walking on the water.

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Dr. Wendy is a servant of the Lord with a passion for encouraging others through the truth and transforming power of God’s Word. Her desire is to help believers grow in their understanding of Scripture and walk confidently with Christ in these end-time days.

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