River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-11-17


Passover Supper and after he had
subsequently instituted the Memoir
ial of his death with the bread and
the cup, and after Judas had gone
out to betray him, Jesus and the re-
naming eleven left the upper room
in Jerusalem, crossed the city to
the gate and thence crossed the
Valley Kedron and assembled the
sloping sides of Mt. Olivet toward
the Garden of Gethsemane. The
word Gethsemane signifies oil
press. Tradition has it that this
Garden belonged to the family of
which the Apostles John and James
were members, and that for this
reason the Lord and his disciples
were privileged to feel themselves
at home there. St. Mark the writer
of one of the Gospels, but not one
of the Apostles, is credited with
having been member of the same
family. One Of the accounts of the
arrest of the Master tells that
amongst those who followed after
him was young man wrapped
with a sheet and who fled naked
when some members of the band
attempted to lay hold Of him. That
young man, tradition says, years
afterwards was known as St. Mark.
THE JOURNEY TO GETHSEMANE
This was the most memorable
night of the Masters experience.
He knew perfectly the meaning of
every feature of the Passover. He
knew that he was the Lamb of God,
antitypically, whose death was tc
be accomplished on the following
day by crucifxion. Yet his
thoughts were for his dear disciples
He must give them final words of
encouragement and instruction.
And so he did. Three chapters of
St. Johns Gospel record the Incl
dents of the intervening time be-
tween the leaving of the upper room
and the arriving at Gethsemane, the
place of the oilpress. And Judas
also, who betrayed him, knew the
place for Jesus ofttimes resorted
thither with his disciples" John
viii, o.. In ST. John xiv the Master
told his disciples about the place he
would go to prepare for them, but
that he would send the Spirit of
Truth to be their comforter and it
would show them things TO come.
In the fifteenth chapter he gave
them the parable of the Vine and
Branches and assured them that
no longer should they be servants
but friends, For all things that |
have heard of my Father l have
made known unto you" In the
sixteenth chapter he explained to
them that prosecutions must be ex-
pected, if they would share his suf-
ferings and be prepared to share
his glory.
A little while and they would not
see him; then again little while
and they would see him. The en-
tire period of his absence, from the
Divine standpoint, as compared to
eternity, would be but little while,
Then, by virtue of the resurrection
change" they would see him, be-
cause made like him. In the
world We shall have tribulation; but
be of good cheer; | have overcome
the world" These things / have
given unto you that in me ye
might have peace" In the 18th
chapter is recorded his wonderful
prayer to the Father on behalf of
his followers-not for the Apostles
only, but for all those who would
believe on him also through their
word.
IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
Thus discoursing they reached
the Garden, or olive-yard, where
the press for extracting oil from the
olives was located. Somewhere
near the entrance eight of the dis
ciples were hidden to remain watch
ing while Jesus, with the specially
beloved Peter, James and John,
went a little further. And then,
realizing the impossibility of his
dearest friends approaching his
sorr owful condition he went still
further alone to speak to the Father.
The disciples, perplexed, astound-
ed, by the things that they had
heard from his lips, did not compre-
bend the true situation. They evil
IDENTIFY thought that there must still
be something parabolic in his utter
ances. They would indeed watch
with him but they were weary and
sank into slumber. The spirit was
willing but the flesh was weak.
IF some have queried why the