Gethsemane
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sympathy of Jesus. He feared that they would not be able to endure
the test which would come upon them in His betrayal and death. He
did not reprove them, but said, “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into
temptation.” Even in His great agony, He was seeking to excuse their
weakness. “The spirit truly is ready,” He said, “but the flesh is weak.”
Again the Son of God was seized with superhuman agony, and
fainting and exhausted, He staggered back to the place of His former
struggle. His suffering was even greater than before. As the agony of
soul came upon Him, “His sweat was as it were great drops of blood
falling down to the ground.” The cypress and palm trees were the silent
witnesses of His anguish. From their leafy branches dropped heavy
dew upon His stricken form, as if nature wept over its Author wrestling
alone with the powers of darkness.
A short time before, Jesus had stood like a mighty cedar, withstand-
ing the storm of opposition that spent its fury upon Him. Stubborn
wills, and hearts filled with malice and subtlety, had striven in vain to
confuse and overpower Him. He stood forth in divine majesty as the
Son of God. Now He was like a reed beaten and bent by the angry
storm. He had approached the consummation of His work a conqueror,
having at each step gained the victory over the powers of darkness. As
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one already glorified, He had claimed oneness with God. In unfaltering
accents He had poured out His songs of praise. He had spoken to His
disciples in words of courage and tenderness. Now had come the hour
of the power of darkness. Now His voice was heard on the still evening
air, not in tones of triumph, but full of human anguish. The words of
the Saviour were borne to the ears of the drowsy disciples, “O My
Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy
will be done.”
The first impulse of the disciples was to go to Him; but He had
bidden them tarry there, watching unto prayer. When Jesus came to
them, He found them still sleeping. Again He had felt a longing for
companionship, for some words from His disciples which would bring
relief, and break the spell of darkness that well-nigh overpowered Him.
But their eyes were heavy; “neither wist they what to answer Him.”
His presence aroused them. They saw His face marked with the bloody
sweat of agony, and they were filled with fear. His anguish of mind
they could not understand. “His visage was so marred more than any
man, and His form more than the sons of men.”
Isaiah 52:14
.