The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-11-16
Sunday School Lesson for Nov. 20, 1910
Specially Arranged for This Paper

Jesus as a captive.
The word "Gethsemane" signifies
IAN oil press" of which there were
certain to be several in a locality then
covered, as Mount Olivet was, with
olive trees. John calls it a garden.
"An eastern garden differs from ours,
in that it is chiefly filled with fruit
trees and fragrant shrubs, rather than
with flower beds; and shade, not or
der or bright colors, is what Is chiefly
studied in it's construction" The gar
den was nearer the Kidron, which ran
between Jerusalem and the Mount Of
Olives.
From the fact that Jesus ofttimes
resorted thither with his disciples
John 1922, it is probable that it was
a suburban pleasure ground, or be-
longed to some friend of Jesus who
gave him the free use of it during his
stay.
He took with him Peter and the two
son of Zebedee, James and John.
These were the three who had seen
his glory on the Mount of Transf1gura-
ton, and were best prepared to sym.
pathize with him. These were to
watch and pray. They were to watch
with him, in sympathy with him, and
against the same temptations. 4
In this hour Jesus needed human
sympathy, even while he must tread
the winepress alone" Three times he
went to them during this season Of
prayer. The more loving the heart,
the more helpful Is fellowship and
sympathy. Every wise person accepts
Of all the sympathy and help he can
get. To throw this away is to reject
one of the best aids God has given US.
Jesus was in the prime Of man
hood; life was just opening before
him; his soul was eager for work, and
conscious Of rare capability to per-
| form it; his death was the end Of all
human hope of achievement" His
earthly career. in this dark hour, may
ture was yelled from his vision. Only
a>few disciples, instead Of a glorious
kingdom, and these few about to for
sake him! Where were the fruits Of
his life? 1t was his hour Of dark
ness, with the future yelled from his
eyes with its resurrection and ascen-
sion, and himself King Of Kings and
Lord of Lords. This required the ut
no,,t boroicpo of foffh
Nevertheless not as l will. Not as
seems desirable now. But as thou
wilt. What in your loving wisdom you
see tt be wise and best. This Is my
prayer and desire. I do not merely
submit to your will, but desire 1t, pray
for it. Underneath that awful agony
there lay, millions Of fathoms deep.
unmoved and immovable, the intense
desire that his Fathers wish and will
should be done."-Morison. This
prayer, "Thy will be DONE" contains
the essence of faith; a faith that ex
poets an answer, and calmly trusts
God as to the kind Of answer.
Thy will be done" means far more
than merely enduring the suffering
God sends. 1t means doing his will
in our business, in u homes; every
where living according to Gods laws
and principles. 1t lei carrying out
his plans for the redemption of men.
The prayer was answered through
the strength given him to drink the
cup, and change it into a cup Of bless
Ing. 1t was answered In the same way
that God answers u prayers, as God
answered Paul's prayer that the thorn
In his flesh might be removed. The
angel strengthening him (Luke) was a
direct answer. There are two ways of
answering a prayer for the removal of
a burden. In one, the burden Is taken
away, and we remain the same; in
the other we are made so strong that
the burden is no longer a burden to
us; as what would crush a child is
but sport to. a man. The latter is by
far the best way Of receiving an an
swer. Paul kept the thorn in his
flesh, but Gods grace was made suffi.
cient for him.
God answered Jesus prayer by civ
ing in a better form than the N in
which the petition was stated, the
soul of his prayer. the things that in
his deepest heart he wanted. If clear.
ly before the vision Of Jesus there had
appeared two choices. the enc of es.
cape from the cross, but with that
also the failure of his mission, the
triumph of evil. the loss of unnu.n'
bercd souls. no crown, no glory, nc
abiding on the right hand Of God: and
the other choice, that OF the cross and
its agony, but with it also the redemp
ton of the world, the ineffable glory
of God, the joys of millions of the
saved, the crown of triumph over
evil-who doubts which would have
been his real, innermost prayer? His
prayer was answered, for the cross
was changed to a crown. Gethsemane
into paradise, death into jmmorta
glory.
10, Judas, one Of the twelve. came
He knew where he would be likely tc
find Jesus, because Jesus vas accus
toned to resort to this garden witt
his disciples. And with him a greaI
multitude, including a band of Roman
soldiers, Jewish officers, captains o.
the temple police. chief priests anG
ol1or, ord their Si1ch rs