MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron
In the Old Testament there's an early reference to a garden. "The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Genesis 2:8-9).
The New Testament also features a garden, and when we toured Israel in 2019, we visited one site outside the wall of Old Jerusalem that may have been the place Jesus prayed the night before His death. In Eden, the first humans met Satan, failed and sinned; in Gethsemane, Jesus suffered and prayed as He too struggled with the same adversary. The apostle Paul contrasted the two encounters. "For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
Like many who suffer, Jesus found peace and resolve by praying. He was our great sinless high priest, but not too high to be affected by all that touches us (Hebrews 4:14). "Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).
You may remember after Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, "the devil...left Him until an opportune time" (Luke 4:13). After the Passover meal in the Upper Room, Jesus walked with His disciples to Gethsemane, named because it was the place of the winepress. The Gethsemane account is found in Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, and Luke 22:39-44.
Most of the disciples were instructed to wait by the gate and pray for themselves (Luke 22:40), that they wouldn't fall into temptation. From there, Jesus went on with Peter, James and John - the same three who had seen His glory at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:28). Jesus told them of His burden, and pleaded with them to watch during His distress (Matthew 26:38-41). I believe the sense of watching is more than staying physically awake - He was urging them and us to remain spiritually alert, especially since He connected the request to avoiding temptation.
Last week we reviewed Jesus' prayer recorded in John chapter 17. Other prayers include the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), Jesus' prayer on the cross in Luke 23:34, and His prayer before calling Lazarus forth from the tomb (John 11:41-42). Generally, He prayed more for the benefit of others rather than for Himself. His prayer in Gethsemane is unique in its focus on Jesus' dilemma, and it reflects the dreadfulness of His circumstance.
There are two parts to the prayer, the appeal, and Jesus' acceptance of the divine plan. Author A B Bruce notes three stages in the prayer, first the unburdening and seeking relief; then facing the bitter reality of "the cup"; and finally, an abandonment to God's will. Three times He prayed, "'Thy will be done'".
Mark chapter 14 reveals two themes, "the hour" and "the cup". Throughout Jesus' years of ministry, He had moved steadily toward this time. "The hour" speaks of the necessary appointment, and "the cup" denotes suffering. The cup of suffering is an offering of love that Jesus shared in the Upper Room, but also one that would be filled for all eternity on the cross. Many have come up with meanings of "the cup" in Gethsemane, including fear of pain and death; struggle with Satan and his temptations; and Jesus' concern about those who would bear the guilt of His death. But there's another explanation of the great struggle in the winepress of Gethsemane. On the cross, Jesus would be counted as sin and would bear the sinner's separation from God. Now that "the hour" was upon Him, that prospect had to be the most disturbing.
The darkness of Gethsemane foreshadowed the blackness of Golgotha, the place of crucifixion. Jesus had seen sin, and sought companionship with sinners, but had never personally experienced it. Now He would face the torment and agony of bearing all that was foreign to His nature. Right after predicting Peter's denial, Jesus had said, "' I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, "And He was numbered with transgressors"'" (Luke 22:37), using a quote from Isaiah 53:12. Hanging on the cross the next day, Jesus cried out, "'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me?'" (Matthew 27:46, quoting Psalm 22:1). These make it easier to understand why He would pray in Gethsemane, as His life was being poured out, "'Let this cup pass from Me'" (Matthew 26:39).
Satan tried again, as he did in the wilderness, to tempt Jesus with a less costly victory. Instead, Gethsemane became a place of communion with the Father and gaining strength for Calvary. After His time alone in the garden, Jesus was able to face His arrest, trial, and crucifixion with the calm that comes from a heart at peace with God.
Tomorrow, on Good Friday, we remember the depth of Jesus' sacrifice and the seriousness of sin. We should also realize His care for sinners and His absolute loathing of the sin they bear. A friend of ours often says, "Thank you, thank you, Lord, for Your great faithfulness."
