Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-16
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THE DARK GETHsEMANE HOUR

The son of man is betrayed into III,
hands of sinners. ". As.
After the Master and his disciples
as Jews, had celebrated the Passover
Supper and after lie had subsequent
~ instituted the Memorial OF his death
with the bread and the cup. and after
Ju las had gone out to betray him.
Jesus and the remaining eleven lief:
the upper room in Jerusalem, crossed
the city to I'll" gate and thence CROSSED
the VALLEY E"dron and assembled the
slipping side ii Mt. Olivet toward the
Garden of Gethsemane. The word
Gcthseman" signifies oil-press. Tradi-
ton has ii that this Garden belonged
TO the family of which the Apostles
John and James We're members. and
that for this reason tn" Lord ana mis-
disciples We're privileged to feel them
selves at home there. st. Mark, tht
writer of one OF the Gospels hut
not one of the Apostles. is credited
with having been Il member Of The
same family. one Of the accounts oi
the arrest of the Master tells that
amongst those who followed after hir,
was young man wrapped with q
sheet and who fec naked when st M
members "f the band attempted to lay
hold of him. That young man. :radi-
ton says, years afterwards was known
as st. Mark.
The Journey to Gethsemane.
This was the most memorable night
in the Masters experience. He knew
perfectly the meaning of every fcatur,
of the Passover. He knew that he was
death was to be accomplished ON the
following day by crucifixion. Yet his
thoughts We're for his dear disciples
He must give them final words of en-
enlargement and instruction. and s.
he did. Three chapters of st. Johns
Gospel record the incidents of the in
tGrvening time between the leaving of
the upper room and the arriving III
GethSemane, the place of the oil press.
And Judas also, who betrayed him,
knew the place. for Jesus Ofttines re-
sorted thithcr with his disciples" John
viii. 81. In st. John xiv the Master
told his disciples about the place he
would go to prepare for them, but that
be their Comforter and it would show
them things to come. In the fifteenth
chapter he gave them the parable of
the Vine and the branches and as
su"ed them that no longer should they
be servants. but friends, For all
things that I have heard of NY Father
have made known unto you" In
the sixteenth chapter he explained to
them that prosecutions must be eX-
pccted, if they would share his suf-
ferings and be prepared to share his
glory.
a little while and they would not
see linn: then again little While and
they ould see him. The entire pc
Rod of his absence. from the Divine
standpoint. as compared to eternity,
would b" but Il little while. Then, by
virtue of the resurrection Change"
they would see him, because 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 ti.at 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 also who would be-
lievc on him through their word.
In the Garden Of Gethsemane.
Thus discoursing they reached the
Garden. or olive-Sard. where the press
for extracting the oil from the olives
was located. Somewhere near the en-
trance eight Of the disciples were, bid
den to remain watching while Jesus,
with the specially beloved Peter.
James and John. went 4 little further.
Md then. realizing the impcssibility
of even his dearest friends appreciate
ing his sorrowful condition. he went
still further alone to speak to the Fa :
ther. The disciples, perplexed. as
founded. by the things that they lad
heard from his lips, did not compre-
bend the trur 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 slumbcr. The spirit was willing,
but the flesh was weak.
If some have uucricd why the
Master preferred to be alone in prayer
so frequently, the answer is. Il hay"
trodden the Wine-presS alone; ami Of
the people there was none with me
Osaiah xiii -. His disciples and fol-
lowers loved him dearly Still he was
alone. because he alone had been be-
gotten of the Holy Spirit. His follow
crs could not feel so blessed nor be