The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-12
SECOND QUARTER.
STUDIES in THE NEW TESTAMENT.
1ay 20, 1883.
Matthew XIV. 36-46. ]
GETHSEMANE.

THE PLACE.-The last Lesson closed with
the statement that JESUS and the disciples
went from the supper room where they had
observed the passover to the Mount OF Olives,
the place of their accustomed resort (Luke
xii. 80; John xviii. p. The slopes of Mount
Olivet we're occupied with gardens, vineyards
and olive groves. Into one of these enelos-
ures (see margin of Revision), which John
calls garden, named Gethsemane, JESUS
entered for season of prayer. Gethsemane
means "oil-press." 1t may have been an
olive garden or orchard in which was press
for extracting oil, or it may be that one was
near by, which gave the name to the place.
Judas had previously left the supper-room to
consummate his bargain made with the chief
priests to deliver JESUS into their hands (xxv.
1916. Eleven now compose the company
of the apostles who are spoken of as accom-
panyipg their master to Gethsemane. They
were advised to pray that they might not
enter into temptation, that is, trial Luke
xii. 4O). At, or on the way from, the sup
Der JESUS had warned them of an occasion
for stumbling in their faith that would occur
that night, at which they had all professed
their faithfulness unto death t31-35). He
now advises them, probably, to pray, that
they might not have such trial OF their
faith. Leaving eight near the entrance OF
the garden, JESUS takes the three whom he
appears to favor with his most intimate COM
partnership, Peter, James and John, and ad-
vanced to POSITION where he asked them to
watch while he prayed alone. He revealed
to them the trouble and sorrow that filled
his own soul, so overwhelming as almost to
take his very life. His sorrowful condition
was much like that described by the Psalm
list psalm xviii. 4-6). He sought relief in
prayer, as he had advised his disciples to
seek to escape any severe test of their faith
and fidelity. He frequently prayed alone in
the pleasant mountain resorts, and IN the
quiet of the midnight hour
"Cold mountains and the midnight air
Witnessed the fervor of his prayer"
Always given to solitary prayer among the
hills 80 dear to him as Galilean, he had
often turned aside to commune with his Fa-
Their on one part or another of Ohvet, and,
this night, chose the stiffness and shade of
spot which his presence made hencefOrth sa-
cred forever. An olive orchard lay near
known by the name of the Oil Press-or, as
we are accustomed to think of 1t, Gethsem-
ane. 1t was called so from rook-hewn
trough in it, in which the rich olives were
trodden with the feet, the oil flowing into
lower vat at hand. DR.. G. Geikte, " Life and
Words of CHRIST"
THE TIME.-The time when JESUS and
his disciples reached the garden of Geth-
semane must have been near or past mid
night of the day of cruciixion, according to
Jewish reckoning. The passover was eaten
after sunset, when the day began. Several
hours must have been occupied in the sup
per room, according to the reports of the
Evangelists. An hour or more would proba-
bly, be consumed in a leisurely walk from
the place of the supper, within the gates of
the city, to Gethsemane, about a mile out
side the city walls.