Evening journal., 1910-11-19
THE DARN GETHsEMANE HOUR.
Matthew 20; 36-i0-NOycmber 90
"The Son Of Man Is betrayed into the
hands of sinners."-V. 45.


"The Son Of Man Is betrayed into the
hands OF sinners.r-Y. 10.
After the Master and his disciples,
as Jews, had celebrated the Passover
supper and after he had subsequent
ly instituted the Memorial of his
death with the bread and the cup,
and after Judas had gone out to be-
tray him, Jesus and the remaining
eleven left the upper room in Jeru-
salem, crossed the city to the gate
and thence crossed the Valley Kedron
and ascended the sloping side Of Mt.
Olivet toward the Garden of Geth-
semane. The word Gethsemane signi-
fies oil-press. Tradition has il that
this Garden belonged to the Family Of
which the Apostles John and James
were members, and that for this rea-
son the Lord and his disciples We're
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 fed 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 fea-
/ ture of the Passover. He knew that he
was the Lamb OF God, antitypically,
whose death was TO be accomplished
on the following day by crucifiXion.
/ Yet his thoughts were for his dear
disciples. He must give them final
words of encouragement and instruc-
ton. And so he did. Three chapters
of St. Johns Gospel record the incl
dents OF the intervening time between
/ the leaving OF the upper room and
/ the arriving at Gethsemane, the place
of the oil-prcss. And Judas also
who betrayed him, knew the place
! for Jesus ofttimes resprted thithei
with his disciples (John viii, y. In
St. John xiv the Master told his dis
ciples about the place he would g
to prepare for them, but that h'
would send the Spirit of Truth to b'
their Comforter and u would snoV
them things TO come. In the hiteenu
chapter he gave them the parable o
the Vine and the Branches and as
sured them that no longer should the
be servants. but friends, For ~
things that I have heard OF my tath
er I have made known unto you.
In the sixteenth chapter be eNplaine'
TO them that prosecutions must y
expected, n they would share his SUI
ferings and be prepared to snare nj
glory
little while and they would no
see him then again little while anf
they would see him. The entire pc
riod of his absence, from the Divine
standpoint. as compared TO eternity
would be but a little while. Then D.
virtue of the resurrection "change,
they would see him, because made
like him. "In the world ye shall nav,
tribulation but be Of good cheer;
have overcome the world. Ihes'
things I have given unto you that u
me ye might have peace. In th'
18th chapter is recorded his wonder
full prayer TO the Father on benai
of his followers-not for the Apostles
only. but for all those also who woul'
believe on him through their world.
In the Garden Of Ge thsemane.
Thus discoursing they reached tn
Garden. or olive-yard, where the pres
for extracting the oil from the olive
was located Somewhere near the en-
trance eight of the disciples wer
hidden to remain watching whli
Iesus. with the specially beloved re
ter. James and John, went littl
further. And then, realizing the i'm
possibility Of even his dearest friend
. appreciating his sorrowful conditlzol
he went sill further alone TO spea
| to the Father. The disciples, pei
nlexed. astounded, by the things tina
thew had heard from his lips, did NO
comprehend the true situation. Inc
evidently thought that there mus
still be something parabolic in nj
utterances. They would indeed watc
with him. but they were weary an
sank into slumber. The spirit wa
willing. but the flesh was weak.
If some have queried why IN
Master preferred to be alone In pray
er so frequently, the answer Is,
have trodden the wine-press alone
and of the people there was none VII
me" Isaiah xiii, 81. His diciple
and followers loved him dearly. STU
he was alone, because he alone ha
been begotten Of the Holy Spirit. III
followers could not feel so blessed no
he sDirit-begotten until after his sac
rifice had been finished nor until b
would appear in the presence OF Go
for them TO apply his merit imputed
10 them. to permit them TO join wit
him sacrifcially in the sufferings
this present time, that they migf
share with him also in the glories
follow.
, ST. Peter, referring to the foregoin
experience of our Lord, declares ths
he offered up strong crying and tear
unto him that was able TO save hil
from death and was heard In respe'
TO that which he feared. Why did b
fear? Do not all humanity face dealt
and some of them with great courag
and some with bravado? All, there
a vast difference between the Master
standpoint and ours as respects deaf
We were born dying. We never kne
perfect life We have always know
that there is no escape from death.
was different with him. His exper
ences on the spirit plane before con
| ing into the world were all in ass
citation with life, perfection OF lif
In him was Observation-Disclosures
because he was holy, harmless. und
: filed and separate from sinners; b
life came not from Adam.
We knew that i'm his perfection
had a right to life. If he would li'
In perfect accordance with the DiviI
requirements. But he knew also tn
! by special Covenant with God,