In the Garden
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decision is made. He will save man at any cost to himself. He accepts
his baptism of blood, that perishing millions through him may gain
everlasting life. He left the courts of Heaven, where all was purity,
happiness, and glory, to save the one lost sheep, the one world that had
fallen by transgression, and he will not turn from the mission he had
chosen. He will reach to the very depths of misery to rescue a lost and
ruined race.
Having made the decision and reached the final crisis, he fell in a
dying condition to the earth from which he had partially risen. Where
now were his disciples, to place their hands tenderly beneath the head
of their fainting Master, and bathe that brow, marred indeed more than
the sons of men? The Saviour trod the winepress alone, and of all
the people there was none with him. And yet he was not alone. He
had said, “I and my Father are one.” God suffered with his Son. Man
cannot comprehend the sacrifice made by the infinite God in giving
up his Son to reproach, agony, and death. This is the evidence of the
Father’s boundless love to man.
The angels who did Christ’s will in Heaven were anxious to com-
fort him; but it was beyond their power to alleviate his sorrow. They
had never felt the sins of a ruined world, and they beheld with as-
tonishment the object of their adoration subject to a grief beyond all
expression. Though the disciples had failed to sympathize with their
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Lord in the trying hour of his conflict, all Heaven was full of sympa-
thy and waiting the result with painful interest. When it was finally
determined, an angel was sent from the throne of God to minister unto
the stricken Redeemer.
The disciples were suddenly aroused from their slumber by a bright
light shining upon and around the Son of God. They started up in
amazement, and beheld a heavenly being, clothed in garments of light,
bending over their prostrate Master. With his right hand he lifted the
head of the divine sufferer upon his bosom, and with his left hand he
pointed toward Heaven. His voice was like the sweetest music, as
he uttered soothing words presenting to the mind of Christ the grand
results of the victory he had gained over the strong and wily foe. Christ
was victor over Satan; and, as the result of his triumph, millions were
to be victors with him in his glorified kingdom.
Well was it for the children of men that the angel’s errand was not
to notify the Saviour that his thrice-repeated prayer, Let this cup pass