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Chapter 74—The Awesome Struggle in Gethsemane
This chapter is based on
Matthew 26:36-56
;
Mark 14:32-50
;
Luke
22:39-53
;
John 18:1-12
.
With His disciples the Saviour made His way to the garden of
Gethsemane. The Passover moon shone from a cloudless sky. As
He neared Gethsemane, He became strangely silent. Throughout
His life on earth He had walked in the light of God’s presence. But
now He was numbered with the transgressors. The guilt of fallen
humanity He must bear. So great was its weight that He was tempted
to fear it would shut Him out forever from His Father’s love. He
exclaimed, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.”
Never before had the disciples seen their Master so utterly sad.
His form swayed as if He were about to fall. On reaching the garden,
the disciples looked anxiously for His usual place of retirement, that
their Master might rest. Twice His companions supported Him, or
He would have fallen.
Near the entrance, Jesus left all but three of the disciples, bidding
them pray for themselves and for Him. With Peter, James, and John,
He entered its secluded recesses. In His great struggle, Christ desired
their presence near Him. Often they had passed the night with Him
in this retreat. After a season of prayer, they would sleep undisturbed
until He awoke them in the morning to go forth anew to labor. Now
He desired them to spend the night with Him in prayer, yet could
not bear that even they should witness the agony He was to endure.
“Tarry ye here,” Jesus said, “and watch with Me.” He went a little
[458]
distance—not so far but that they could both see and hear Him—
and fell prostrate on the ground. He felt that by sin He was being
separated from His Father. The gulf was so broad, so black, so deep,
that His spirit shuddered before it. This agony He must not exert His
divine power to escape. As man He must suffer the consequences
of man’s sin. As man He must endure the wrath of God against
transgression.
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