Jesus in Gethsemane

Jesus in Gethsemane. Easter, 2015

Misunderstood by the men he loves the most, Jesus finishes the Passover dinner with them, and then departs the Upper Room, and begins the quiet march toward his arrest. Tonight, Jesus returns once more to the Mount of Olives, and stops in the garden that we hold so dear, the Garden of Gethsemane. We watch as Jesus prays to his Father, about the agony that is soon to come upon him - Luke 22.39-46.

Think for a moment what it must have been like. From our perspective 2,000 plus years later we can see the buildup on that night, and we know what is to come. My heart is actually racing as I write, filled to overflowing considering the thoughts and feelings Jesus must have been experiencing.

The disciples are with him, forewarned about the urgency of that evening, knowing Judas is somewhere putting his plot into motion. Jesus turns and looks at the group, and asks them to 'watch and pray--to wait for him'. Then walking a little way off, Jesus, Son of God, enters into the most desperate prayer of his lifetime. How he loves the disciples, but they just do not get it; Jesus knows he is in this alone. In fact, as he looks over his shoulder, Jesus sees that they could not watch and pray with him; instead, they are asleep.

Our Lord no doubt feels anguish that his best friends could not stay awake and pray, but they have just had the Passover meal, which includes four cups of wine, and it has already been a very long day. All this, Jesus knows.

From my childhood, I remember a picture my mother had hanging on the wall of Jesus kneeling down to pray in the Garden, with his eyes cast toward Heaven, and a yellowish glow all about him. [Can you believe it? I found it!] Jesus prays "Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." The horror of the crucifixion awaits Jesus, and ‘in agony, he prays so fervently that his sweat becomes like drops of blood, falling upon the ground.’1

Luke, a physician, was the only gospel writer who wrote of this condition; the clinical term is “hematohidrosis”.2 Around the sweat glands, there are multiple blood vessels in a net-like form. Under the pressure of great stress, the vessels constrict. Then as the anxiety passes, “the blood vessels dilate to the point of rupture. The blood goes into the sweat glands.” As the sweat glands are producing a lot of sweat, it pushes the blood to the surface - coming out as droplets of blood mixed with sweat.

We know how the story goes, God does not find another way, for NO ONE ELSE WILL DO--in short order, Jesus will go to the cross. But what are we to take from that Garden, where our Lord prays, crying out to the Father? First, every time the Bible records people 'crying out to God', God hears their prayers, and comes and answers. Friends, when we cry out to God in prayer, he hears us too.

The Garden is still there, at the foot of the Mt. of Olives in Jerusalem, right next to the Church of All Nations. There are a few olive trees within a fenced area that date back over 2000 years, which serve as silent witnesses to that night so long ago. Oh, if only those trees could speak!

Some thoughts of application to ponder: We know from the gospel narratives, that Jesus regularly retreated to pray, and be alone with his Father; so, on this the night of his greatest trial, it was natural that Jesus would pray. (It should be just as natural for us to reach for him in times of trouble) He sought the Father’s will, and accepted the Father’s will. Jesus stands as our example.

While he has not asked you and me to watch and pray in the Garden with him, Jesus has set a course for us to take. We can do what he has asked us to do—we can be ready to respond to his leading, and then with his help, we can remain faithful. “…let us lay aside every weight, and sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…”3

I challenge you - Get alone with your Father this week, just before Holy Week, and seek his will for your life. Perhaps seek out a park-like setting, and sit in his presence, bask in his love. Thank him for his good gifts to you. These – gifts from the garden.

Christine

1 - Luke 22.44

2 – The Case for Easter, Lee Strobel

3 Hebrews 12:1-2