The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1906-11-09
JESUS IN
CETHSEMANE

Specially Prepared for This Paper.

i verses,
| GOLDEN TExT.-"Not my will. but
thine, be done."-Luke 22:42
| TIME.-Between midnight and one
T TSeoG morning ass Of H the day Of eruci1ion
| PLACE.-The garden OF Gethsemane. on
the lower slope Of Mount OF Olives op-
posite Jerusalem.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
v. SO. Then" About midnight.
"Cometh Jesus with them" Jesus with
the eleven apostles, Judas having left
the company. "Gethsemane." APP
parently this garden was owned by
some friend of Jesus, since we read
that Jesus ofttimes resorted thither
with his disciples. Saith sit
| We here" Jesus left eight OF his
friends near the garden gate. that
they might watch against surprise by
the enemy. while / go and pray"
Prayer was the very atmosphere of
Jesus life.
v. 81 Peter and the two SONS OF
Zebedee." These three-Peter, James
and John-best understood Jesus, and
had been his chosen companions on
two earlier occasions. Began to be
sorrowful" Sore amazed MARK. 1t
was as If he were stunned by extreme
amazement.
vas. my soul is exceedingly sor-
rowful" A proverbial expression of
severe suffering Even unto death"
That is, he feared the spiritual agony
would be too great for the physical
nature to endure "Tarry We here"
Jesus wished to be alone with his Fa-
Their, yet was so truly human that he
longed for human sympathy. Watch
with me-" He would have them keep
awake from sympathy with him, watch
against any intrusion upon his COM
munion with his Father, and also
watch against the danger which
threatened them as well as him
self.
| v. 80. "Went little further" Luke
says he went about stones cast"
Fell on his face and prayed"
Kneeled to pray; then in anguish of
spirit, utterly Frustrated himself. Say
ing" Compare the three records
Mark 1895; Luke, 22:42, and the Les
son Text. 20 my Father" He ad-
dressed God as my Father" and
therein shows us the meaning and
the power of prayer. eff it be pos
sible." If mans redemption can be
accomplished in any other way. This
cup" A common figurative expression
to denote the lot or portion assigned
one by God. Not as l will, but
as thou wilt" He was not merely
willing to submit to Gods will, but
prayed for it; heartily desired that
the all-wise, ALLOWING will be &C
complished at any cost.
| V. 40. "Cometh unto the disciples"
Came to the three whom he had taken
with him into the garden. "Findeth
them sleeping" Though they loved
him dearly, they could not enter into
his feelings sufficiently to overcome
drowsiness. Saith unto Peter" He
singled out the one who had been
spokesman when recently they all de-
clared themselves ready to die with
their Master Matt. 26:33-35). Gould
We not watch with me one hour?"
Jesus heart was sorely wounded, not
merely because they were so cold
toward him, but because of the peril
into which they had drifted by yield
| ing to their drowsiness.
v. Al. Watch and pray" They, and
we, should watch because the great
adversary of souls is very wise and
crafty, and should pray because in
our own strength we are powerless to
resist him. Eye enter not into temp
| tation." Juest before the disciples
| was the great temptation to deny and
desert Jesus.
V. 40. Prayed, saying" etc. The
slight change in the words he uttered
in his second prayer is noteworthy,
| for it gives evidence that he has been
strengthened and is more calm.
V. 45. "Sleep on now" The time
for watching and prayer was past.
v. 46. Rise, let us be going" The
approaching torches effectually reused
the slumbering disciples, and they
arose to go with Jesus, not to hide
from, but to meet, the company COM
ing against them.
v. AZ. "a great multitude" A mixed
crowd, including a cohort of Roman
soldiers and squad of the Levitical
temple guard. With swords and
staves." The soldiers bore swords,
others in the crowd carried clubs.
From the chief priests and elders"
It was the religious leaders of the
Jews who were leaders in this move
ment.
v. 4S. "Gave them sign" The
Roman soldiers were not acquainted
with Jesus by sight, hence the need of
a sign.
v. 49, "Kissed him" The original
is a compound verb denoting repeat
ed and most affectionate salutation.
". So Wherefore art thou conner"
Better in Revised Version. do that
for which thou art come" The words
by which Jesus addressed Judas, here
translated friend" means compan-
ion. Judas sin was blacker because
he had been an intimate companion
of Jesus for three years.
Practical Points.
v. 81. 1t is our privilege to live in
such intimate communion with Christ
that we can be admitted into secrets
hid from those who follow afar off,
Ps. 24:14.
v. SO. AS we come to see clearly we
find that Gods will is matter to
delight in, not merely to submit to-
Rom. 1872.
v. Al. We must be surrounded by
foundation uhi1o we live in thiS world