The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-18

1t was n wonderful talk that laated
until NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. not for It's
length. but for it's depth. and most
wonderful because his Let not your
heart be troubled" came from a heart
that was ready to burst with pent-up
sorrow. Fer days--who can tell how
long?-Jesus had been walking In the
shadow of the cross: and the burden
on his spirit had grown so heavy that
II was now apparent that without the
Fathers help his human strength
would be exhausted before he could
reach Calvary. At any rate. that IL
the way it looks to US at this distance.
We may be mistaken. but 1t would
seem that an hour Of uninterrupted
retirement was a physical necessity.
And so. leaving the upper room with
his disciples, he made his way out OF
the city down the hillside to kedron
and crossing the brook-hcre the text
begins:
Light on the Lesson Text.
Verse SO. A place--an enclosed
piece Of ground. Gethsemane--the
word means "otl press" As the Mount
OF Olives was covered with olive trees
there were probably several oil presses
in the neighborhod. John says III
was a garden-rather An orchard. as
an eastern garden Is filed with fruit
trees and shrubs. The same writer
also says that Judas knew the place.
Sit We here--apparently near the en-
trance OF the garden tMark). fon-
der--or, there" father on In the
garden. Some think that he with
drew to the garden partly because
he did not wish to involve his friends
l., Jerusalem in trouble. 81. The two
sons Of Zebedee--James and John
Some think that he selected Peter
James and John because having seen
his glory on the Mount Of Transiisu-
ration they were best prepared to
sympathize with him Began to be
sorrowful and very heavy--the wore
for very heavy" denotes intense dis
tress. resemb bling Inconsistencies t3sl
Exceeding sorrowful--enconpas passed
with sorrow. Even unto death---his
sorrow seemed enough to crush him
to death f39) He went little far
ther--Luke says about stones
cast" Fell ON his face--Luke says
"kneeled down" Perhaps he knelt
and then being overwhelmed by Q
sudden burst of anguish fell forward
on his face. Ii IL be possible--ac-
cording to Luke. III tnou be, Will
ing: meaning II It ID morally pos
sible. that is. consistent with the
Fathers purpose. Let this cup--the
cup OF agony which ne had already
begun to drink. Some think that the
cup from which he prayed to be de-
livered was premature death In tbs
garden. His great horror. says DIR
Schauff1er. arose not from fear OF
Calvary. but from fear of failure
Through physical suffering, to reach
Calvary, and SO lose all for which ne
left heaven. Luke says f2c.43l that
there appeared an angel unto him
from heaven. strengthening him" This
same writer describes his agony as
being so great that his sweat became
as It were great drops OF blood
something not unknown to physicians
t40D He cometh unto the disciples
Peter, James and John. This he did
three times. Findeth them asleep
Luke explains that they we're sleep
foreboding OF the night had been toe
great a strain upon them. Saith unto
Peter--who had spoken 80 confident.
| ly about standing by his Master. 4l)
Watch and pray. that ye enter moi
into temptation-or, Watch ys. ano
pray that We enter not" etc. The,
would presently he tempted to un-
| faithfulness and they needed to pray
against 1t. The spirit--their higher
! nature. But the flesh-thsir physica
as opposed to their spiritual nature
| (45) Sleep on now and take your
| reyt--Some would translate, Are VI
| yet sleeping and taking youa rest"'
| He may have said to them. 'SleeI
! on now" and then a moment oil
two later seeing the enemy approach.
ing gave the command to rise. t461
Let us be going--not to flee from hi
! enemies. but to meet them. t47) Ju-
das, one Of the twelve, came, etc
I tho enemies Of Jesus We're afraid tt
arrest him openly In the daytime les
the populace should be stirred up
(49) Kissed him-the word means
Kissed much: ne kissed him agar
and again.
The Lesson Text In Everyday Dress
Taking with him the three disciple,
who knew him best and who haC
| been witnesses OF his glory An thu
| mount Jesus left the others to watch
within the gate and went forward IN
the midst OF the garden. But ever
these nearest friends were not to bs
witnesses OF his agony. .Tarry "
here and watch with me- he said
and leaving them ne went forward
little and kneeled down. At las,
he was alone. and his great hear,
could no longer contain its pent-uI
sorrow. A horrible darkness came
upon his soul, and he fell upon ths
ground. Abba. Father he cried
''all things are possible unto Thee
take away this cup from me-" Sc
great was his agony that his life
fiickered and almost went out. He
was sorrowful unto DEATH" Great
drops of sweat like as Of blood started
forth upon his brow. and fell upon
Was 1t the dread Of shame, OF pain
Was It che dread OF shame. OF pain
OF death? In his name and through
his strength many disciple since
his day has welcomed death. Never
can mortal know what the Son OF
God. upon whom was laid the iniQuity
OF US all, suffered under that bur-
den. One mans iniquity 10 more than
a poor. frail mortal used to sin car
bear. Who can tell what the bur-
den of the worlds sin was upon him
who knew no sin?
hut great az was his suffering, he
did not raise his Will for single
moment against his Fathers will.
IF 1t be possible'--if 1t be consistent
with the Fathers purpose: but mot
that my will be done: thy will be
done!" And in answer to his cry
there appeared an angel unto him
from heaven strengthening him."
Then his thoughts turned to the
three disciples whom ne had left to
watch and pray. Again and again
ne arose from his knees and went tn
warn them. Each time they we're
asleep--asleep again for sorrOw,"
says Luke. the physician. The sad
ness of their spirits had weighed on
their bodies: they were weary. and
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