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What Happened in Gethsemane?
by Tom Stewart
July 2, 2001
To the east of Jerusalem, "over
the brook Cedron" (John 18:1), probably
at the foot of the Mount of Olives, there "was
a garden" (18:1) "called Gethsemane" (Matthew
26:36). In the Greek, Gethsemane means an oil orchard.
Attached to the garden was an orchard of olive, fig, and pomegranate trees to which
"Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with
His disciples" (John 18:2) to retreat
from the crowds for rest, comfort, and prayer. The Garden of Gethsemane is best known
to us for the scene of the betrayal of the LORD into the hands of the "chief priests and elders of the people" (Matthew 26:47). Of the events prior to His betrayal
that night in Gethsemane, we are called upon to consider the nature of Jesus' agony
when He prayed, "Father, if Thou be willing,
remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done" (Luke 22:42). Scripture records that immediately
"there appeared an angel unto Him from
Heaven, strengthening Him" (22:43),
in response to His petition.
Shortly before Christ's prayer in Gethsemane, He and His disciples had just observed
the Passover Supper, that we now commemorate as the "Lord's
Supper" (1Corinthians 11:20). They
came to Gethsemane, where the LORD told the eleven, "Sit
ye here, while I go and pray yonder" (Matthew 26:36). Taking with Him Peter, James, and John about "a
stone's cast" (Luke 22:41) from
the remaining disciples, Jesus instructed them, "My
soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me" (Matthew 26:38). These were the LORD's closest earthly
friends of which He asked their support in preparation for His death on the Cross.
"And He said, Abba, Father, all things
are possible unto Thee; take away this cup from Me: nevertheless not what I will,
but what Thou wilt" (Mark 14:36).
It was not that His will did not match the Father's will, because the LORD Jesus
certainly was one with the Father. "That
they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee" (John 17:21). Jesus just wanted to emphasize that
it was the Father's will that mattered, not His own. What was the LORD Jesus doing
at this pregnant moment before He knew He would be delivered into the enemies' hands
for suffering and death? Was He praying that Satan would not be allowed to destroy
Him in the Garden of Gethsemane before He had the opportunity to atone for the sins
of mankind upon the Cross? Yes, most certainly. "And
being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops
of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:44).
The body of the LORD Jesus was reported by "Luke,
the beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14)
to have "sweat... great drops of blood" (Luke 22:44). This was undoubtedly due to the great
"agony" (22:44) He was enduring at that very moment in Gethsemane. "Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers
and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him
from death, and was heard in that He feared" (Hebrews
5:7). The agony of Christ in Gethsemane was necessary-- as the Son
of God, Who "stedfastly set His face to
go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51)-- for
the voluntary sacrifice of His life on the Cross. This He knew would satisfy the
Public Justice of God's Holy Law of Love, making it appropriate for the Father to
forgive those who would repent and believe, while upholding the sanctity of the Moral
Law. "Think not that I am come to destroy
the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17). "For
all the Law is fulfilled in one Word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself" (Galatians 5:14). [See
the instructive comments on the nature of Public Justice by Charles
G. Finney ---New Window in his "Systematic
Theology" ---New Window (1851),
Lecture 34 on the "Atonement" ---New Window.]
This art print, "No Greater Love"
by Robert Grace is provided courtesy of Christ-Centered Art ---New Window.
But, the humanity of the LORD Jesus knew full well that He was about to endure unimaginable
suffering, even for the noble cause of redeeming mankind. "For
no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the
LORD the Church" (Ephesians 5:29).
Which of us would not appreciate Divine Grace to assist us to willingly lay down
our lives, if so required? "2 Looking unto Jesus the Author and
Finisher of Our Faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God. 3 For consider Him that endured such
contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:2-3). Jesus "was
in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin"
(4:15). Humanly speaking, this meant that He could be tempted
in the flesh to not want to be scourged and crucified, i.e., "Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered
up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able
to save Him from death" (Hebrews 5:7).
Since the Atonement of the LORD Jesus Christ was the substitution or exchange of
His sufferings on the Cross for the punishment of Sinners, Christ needed to be strengthened
by the angels to overcome the temptation not to go to the sufferings and death
of the Cross. For if He had not gone, He would not have become a "Ransom for all" (1Timothy
2:6).
Thank you, LORD Jesus, for willingly enduring the "contradiction
of sinners" against Yourself, and "despising the shame" of the Cross
to purchase our Redemption. Thank you for overcoming the temptation to not
go to the suffering and death of the Cross. And, thank you, Father, for loving us
so much that You gave us your Only Begotten Son and strengthening Him in Gethsemane
and on the Cross to endure the suffering to purchase our Forgiveness.
Amen, and Amen.
.
Related Topics:
What
the Bible Says About
Why Did Jesus Have to Suffer? ---New Window
by Tom Stewart
"Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the
Just for the unjust,
that He might bring us to God,
being put to Death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit"
(1Peter 3:18).
"The Natural Love that we have for ourselves is a Universal
Truth, for 'no man ever yet hated his own flesh'
(Ephesians 5:29); and,
Jesus the Son of Man was no different. 'For we have
not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but
was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin' (Hebrews 4:15). He had no special enjoyment
of suffering, just as we do not enjoy suffering. 'Wherefore
in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be
a Merciful and Faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make Reconciliation
for the sins of the people' (Hebrews 2:17). It is difficult for the Righteous to watch the Guiltless and Innocent
suffer, because their suffering is our suffering. 'Remember
them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being
yourselves also in the body' (Hebrews 13:3). Further, we have been advised by the Scriptures to remain
'simple' concerning the specifics
of the sufferings that evil men inflict. 'For your Obedience
is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would
have you wise unto that which is good, and simple [Greek,
akeraion, harmless] concerning evil' (Romans 16:19). It was only the Providence
of God that allowed the human mother of Jesus to be at the scene of Christ's Crucifixion,
and one can only imagine the impression upon Mary as she beheld the Agony of her
Son upon the Cross! Perhaps it was at that moment that Mary recalled the prophetic
words of Simeon from the dedication of Jesus. '34 And Simeon blessed them,
and said unto Mary His mother, Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising
again of many in Israel; and for a Sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce
through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed' (Luke 2:34-35). For those we love, suffering and even death for ourselves would
be more desirable than to watch them suffer. But, Jesus willingly set His
face like flint to suffer the Cruel Death of the Cross for friend and foe
alike, e.g., the Roman centurion in charge of His Crucifixion exclaimed about the
events and manner of Christ's Death on the Cross, 'Truly
this was the Son of God' (Matthew 27:54)."
The Majesty
of the Atonement of Jesus Christ ---New Window
Or, Christ's Humanity Provided an Atoning Sacrifice for the Sins of Mankind
by Tom Stewart
"And not only so, but we also joy in God through
our LORD Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the Atonement" (Romans 5:11).
"At this moment, only a short time before the 'glorious
appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ'
(Titus 2:13), it is a retrospective of awe and wonder that we would consider again
the central, fundamental, and timeless theme of the atoning self-sacrifice of the
Creator for the well-being of rebellious and sinful man... he most majestic act of
God towards us was the Atonement of Jesus Christ on the Cross for all mankind. So
marvelous was this act of atonement, that the angels were quite eager to see how
the LORD would handle it. 'Unto whom it was revealed,
that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now
reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost
sent down from Heaven; which things the angels desire to look into'
(1Peter 1:12). Eternity cannot exhaust our study of the love of God that was manifested
in His atonement for us."
The
Amazing Humanity of Jesus Christ ---New
Window
Or, The Benefit of Christ's Birth
by Tom Stewart
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father,) full
of Grace and Truth"
(John 1:14).
"The Old Testament of the Scriptures is replete with clues of God's purpose
to redeem and govern mankind through the human advent of the Divine Son of God. '6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us
a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall
be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince
of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and
peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order
it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.
The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will perform this'
(Isaiah 9:6-7).
What astounds us is that the Son of God condescended to become a man-- to suffer
all the difficulties of the flesh and the human condition, 'yet
without sin' (Hebrews
4:15). Heaven will surely be filled with the Saints'
praise and admiration for so bold an act of love that the Son of Man would become
human flesh and then 'lay
down His life for His friends' (John 15:13).
'Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you' (15:14)."
His Resurrection
Is The Highest Proof That Jesus Is The Messiah ---New Window
by Tom Stewart
"What evidence should satisfy the most inquisitive mind that Jesus is the Messiah?
All of humanity must be born into this world, and it will be by the hand of the Almighty
that He will take us out of this world, i.e., 'And as it is
appointed unto men once to die, but after this The Judgment' (Hebrews
9:27), so birth and death are common to man. However, who but God Alone has
the Power to resurrect from the dead? 'God hath spoken once;
twice have I heard this; that Power belongeth unto God' (Psalm
62:11). Even if a questioning mind could not settle whether Jesus resurrected
by His own Power or whether it was the Power of the Almighty to resurrect Jesus from
the dead, Why would Jehovah resurrect Jesus and thereby vindicate the claims of Jesus
of Nazareth that He would Rise again after three days, unless Jesus is
the Messiah? '3 Concerning
His Son Jesus Christ our LORD, which was made of the seed of David according to the
flesh; 4 and declared to be the
Son of God with Power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the Resurrection from
the dead' (Romans 1:3-4)."
Without Jesus,
My Wage is Death ---New Window
by Katie Stewart
"Without Jesus, as my very 'Life',
no amassed regretting, no mustered repenting, no aggregate of tears-- NOTHING I could
ever do-- could EVER change the wage I had earned for the sin I had committed against
God's Holy Law. 'Against Thee, Thee only, have
I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be Justified when Thou
speakest, and be Clear when Thou judgest' (Luke 20:21). My wage was rightfully--
Death. 'The soul that sinneth, it shall die' (Ezekiel 18:20). A Death which would forever separate me from the Creator of my
soul. 'Commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well
doing, as unto a Faithful Creator' (1Peter 4:19)... Without Jesus Christ,
we will pay our own sin debt, 'for the wages of sin
is Death' (Romans 6:23).
With the Atoning Work of the Cross that the LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ suffered,
our debt of Death has been paid in full. He did that for us! As 'The
Gift of God' (6:23),
the Father has given Jesus Christ, His Son, to us. He is our
'Eternal Life' (6:23).
And, dear reader, if you receive Him, this 'Life' begins in you NOW. You will live victoriously-- without sin-- ONLY
if you live 'through Jesus Christ' (6:23).
'In this was manifested the Love of God toward us, because that God sent His Only
Begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him'
(1John 4:9)."
What the Bible
Says About Temptation ---New Window
by Tom and Katie Stewart
"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil" (Matthew
6:13).
"This is a study about understanding temptation, not simply
because the Master enjoined, 'Pray that ye enter not
into temptation' (Luke 22:40),
but because we also desire to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in doing all
that is humanly possible to prevent temptation from turning into sin. '10 With
my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy Commandments...
133 Order my steps in
Thy Word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me'
(Psalm 119:10, 133).
From the first temptation of Eve in the Garden when the Serpent succeeded in causing
our First Parents to doubt the love of God, to the final 'Hour
of Temptation' (Revelation 3:10) of the Apocalypse, mankind has struggled, and will struggle, with
the necessity to overcome temptation. Our present unwillingness to enter into temptation
is the same unwillingness to enter into the 'Hour of
Temptation' (3:10) soon prophesied to come upon this world. 'Because
thou hast kept the Word of My Patience, I also will keep thee from the Hour of Temptation,
which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the Earth' (3:10).
But, since 'all the Promises of God in
[Christ] are Yea, and in Him Amen' (2Corinthians 1:20), we can lay hold
of the Master's instruction to 'pray that ye enter not
into temptation' (Luke 22:40),
with the bold assurance that, indeed, 'sin shall not
have dominion over [us]'
(Romans 6:14)!"
Seven Reasons Why I Believe in
THE ATONING
BLOOD OF CHRIST
by Dr. Ian R. K. Paisley
---New Window
"This vital consideration brings us to the
fulcrum of the great operation of the Divine Revelation, to the centre of the vast
circumference of Divine Redemption and to the very heart of the throbbing purpose
of Divine Reconciliation. We come from the shallows of human speculation to the depths
of divine revelation when we come to the Blood. We step at this juncture from the
shadows of Old Testament typology to the blazing sunshine of New Testament theology.
It is here we launch our souls from the shores of man's estimate into the boundless,
tideless, endless sea of God's ultimate."
Seven Reasons Why I Believe in
THE BODILY
RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
by Dr. Ian R. K. Paisley
---New Window
"The Resurrection is essential to Christianity,
for by it alone can Christianity be confirmed. The Resurrection is the great corroborator
of the Christian gospel. Remove this keystone and the goodly temple crashes into
ruin. As life is essential to living so the Resurrection is essential to a living
Christianity. Take away the Resurrection and Christianity becomes a dead letter,
but another contribution to the world's Pantheon."
"And if Christ be not raised, your Faith is vain; ye are
yet in your sins" (1Corinthians 15:17).
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