The National tribune., 1888-05-10
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught by Study OF the Inter
national Sunday school Lesson Appointed 70
May 20. ST. Matt, % 1915.

indicated abOvel
SUBJECT: CHESTS AGONY IN TIE GARDEN
OF GETHsEMANE.
/. The Time.
The time when our Savior experienced his
agony in the Garden of Gethseuane was Thurs
day night about IL o'clock, March II, A. d. 90
which was 1859 years ago. Christ was in his
34th year of life aud the fourth of his ministry.
II was the full of the moon, from the fact il was
coinCideat with the Passover feast Being yet
in Spring, it was cold. (St. John, Is 49, This
was Christ's last night before his crucifxion.
2. The Place.
Christ had spent the early part of the even
ing with his Apostles on Mount Zion, in the
City of Jerusalem, completing the Passover
and originating the Holy Communion. At,
say, about 8 to 10 o'clock they went from Mt.
Zion, out from Jerusalem, across the brook ke-
dron to Mt. Olives, entering the Garden of
| Gethsemane. Jesus and his Disciples often
went to that quiet, solemn spot for prayer, con-
sultation, meditation and rest (St John, IS:
L, q Though it was probably private prop
erty, the owner may have been friendly to
| Christ, and have permitted his frequent visits.
| The word Gethsemane means place of oil
] presses. Olives grew on the mount, giving
name to Mt. Olives. The press was used for
converting the olive fruit into oil. IT is said
| eight olive trees yet grow within the garden
plot. Ihey are very old; some persons eStl-
/ mate the age Of the trees at 1000 years, and
| believe them the same which witnessed our
| SsviOr's sufferings and heard his groans. The
| garden entry is only at a distance of about a
/ stones cast from the bridge of the Hebron.
That rivulet is about six to seven feet wide, be-
| ing dry Summers. Lightfoot called it the sink
or common sewer of Jerusalem. The word
| Hebron means dark. When sacrifices were
| offered it was rendered still more black IN ap-
peaTance. The stream flowed southwest, empty
| ing into the Dead Sea. Titus was so thorough
/ in his destruction of Jerusalem and vicinity, 1t
is difficult to think the olive trees now in Geth-
semane were the same which shaded our Savior
| IN has fearful and agonizing prayer The Fran
ciscan monks possess the Garden, holding it in
great reverence. They built the walls which
now surround it, The following from DR..
Jacobus gives one an insight into the surround
| ings:
''The place named lies along the path that
sseends the Mount of Olives, just beyond the small
| foot-bridge that crosses the brook Kedron. We
found il walled in by high and heavy stone wall,
poorly plastered, which had been built in i541 by
the Latin monks. We were allowed to enter by a
narrow gateway, as woTkmen were engaged in the
Enclosure at some stonewoTk around well IN the
northwest corner. We found the garden wall, on
measurement, to be l6s feet Oh the north side and
I'D feet the west side, and II feet high. The
olive trees are gnsred and irregular bearing every
appearance of great antiquity. One OF the trunks
we found to have circumference of % feet in the
| middle and % feet at the base"
3. The Sufferer and His Companions.
Christ and his II Apostles went from Mt.
| Zion to Gethsemane. Near the entrance he left
eight Of the Disciples passing on farther with
in, having with him SITS. Peter James and John.
Hating, he passed on to about the distance of a
stones throw, (St. Luke, %: AL asking the
three selected Apostles to remain till his re-
turn. The cast of stone might be, say, l40
feet. The three Apostles chosen to- be more
near TO the sufferer were the same selected by
him TO witness his TRANSPORTATION, and to be-
i Al Al T
Christ withdrew" tSt Luke, p: All from the
three. He trod the wine press alone. He is
the only Savior. He offered himself on the
altar Of sacrifice
4. Cause of The Agony.
There Is no doubt but the severest struggle
of Christ was in Gethsemane. There he fought
the battle and came forth victorious. 1t is the
making up the mind, the conquest over all re-
luctance the reaching a firm conviction and
resolution, which costs the greatest struggle
! Leaving Gethsemane Jesus passed on calmly
to his fate His was a conscious agony, Says
Martin:
He tremblss, but he does not faint. He does
not swoon, but agonize. And agony is action "a
the uttermost This is the glory of his triumph"
AS to the cause, DR.. Meyer says:
81 have no hesitation in believing that he wa,
/ here put upon the trial of his obedience Ia pur
suance OF this purpose the mind Of Jesus was lef
10 pass under dark cloud; his views lost then
| clearness, the Fathers will seemed shrouded il
obscurity, the appeared in tenfold horror anC
nature was left TO indulge her feelings and put forth
her reluctance"
The opinion Of DR.. Ormiston is very safe. he
said:
THE mysterious nature of his dread wo we
cannot comprehend. What we do know IS, tha
he voluntarily endured all these sutferngs Tor Us
that he might bring US 10 God. 1t was the Son o
man IN anguish for mankind"
The struggle was mental His physical dis
tTess began next day with nails and spear and
cross. He was not lacking in courage He die
{ not suffer so terribly because of chagrin al
meeting, though innocent, such humiliating
disgraeeful death. From a human standpoint
he would, like any man, have the sorest dread
at tbs prospective wounding and pain. But ht
was inferior to many man If he were sC
racked with distress IN the face of mere bodily
suffering. He sOrrowed over human sinful
ness; at the lack of the world Ia appreciation
Of his life and death; at the coming secular
Indebtedness of the Jews; at the slowness o
men TO accept salvation. Then Satan piled hin
with his darts. (St Luke, 4 IS; y 49,
5. Products of His Agony.
l. He sought solitude. (St. Matt % &c.
1t is natural to seek quiet and retirement wher
in distress.
2. He prayed. Tvs SO, &c., His was earnes
prayer. This is seen in Teiteration. Tvs AZ
Az His attitude was kneeling, with face to tn,
ground.
AAS WOO SJkiuHAuls u De- OD ~ Os A4dl4
: 1 y; st. John, II 27; Isa., So: 81
4. lie was heavy with sorrow. (Y. 80 Hi
, grief became a burden pressing him down ever
with his face to the ground. He was over
whelmed with feeling.
5. He was sore amazed. (St Mark, ID 80.
The prospect before him in connection with it
relations to our salvation stunned him as al
, at once he faced it,
6. lie wanted company. While one seeks t.
. be alone he still wants help within call Their
is comfort in the thought friends are at hand i
need arise.
7. His distress developed into an actua
agony. (St. Luke, %: AL He was forced t.
struggle with it as an athlete in the aren't
: against his antagonist His physical power
! were tested to the fullest. He suffered almos
l to the very point of death. (V.33.)
DR.. ]. A. Alexander uses the following Ian
guage:
IF could collect the tears of widowed wives
and ohildless mothers, and forsaken orphans, tn
cries OF every battlefield, the groans of every hos
T pital, the shrieks OF every torture-room the uu
O heard sobs which have been stifed in the prison
house, and all those deeper ag0nies which neye
= find expression, they would be nothing TO Tia
/ single pang which wrung single heart upon tbs
: awful night"
d 8. He was Strengthened" (St Luke, IL
50.) He was hemmed in by the one work O
q saving mankind. His was narrow way II
t kept right to his mission. He had no margin
of Tor H., A