The central record., 1914-10-15

Wholly fU"getful of Himself and His
approaching sufTcrings. in way that
we cannot understand, He comforted
that little band with the Incompatible
words of John xiv. XIV. xvi and pray
ed the prayer of John xvii, SUCH Il
prayer as was never prayed on earth
before or since. Then they sang Il
hymn and went out into the mount of
Olives Verse 26p. He went forth over
the brook CedrOn. because His son
Israel had turned against Him and
would not have Him zen iv. ID; Ps.
lxXXi III. We cannot but think of
His father David going forth over the
same brook because his son rebelled
against him QI Sam. XIV. 23I. but as
truly as David returned and reigned
when the rebellion was over. SO shall
the Son of David return and reign
when ISraers rebellion is over
Having entered Il garden in Geth-
Semane Dohn xviii. II. He said to His
disciples. sit ye here while | shall
pray and. leaving eight of them. He
took Peter and james and John and
sOrrowful and Very heavy verse SO;
Matt. XVI. 81. Putting the three rec
ordS together as well us we can. it
seems to have been like this: He was
withdrawn from the three favored dis
cipleS about Il stones cast, saving TO
Il i,-
full unto death Tarry ye here and
watch with me-" Then He went for
ward little and kneeled down and
fell on His face on the ground and
prayed. saying. 20 my Father. if it he
possible let this cup pass from me;
nevertheless. not my will but Thine be
done" And there appeared an angel
unto Him from heaven, strengthening
Him. And. being i'll an agony. He
prayed more earnestly, and His sweat
was as it We're great drops of blood
falling down to the ground Matt.
XVI, 31-;39; Mark xiv. 1886: Luke xii.
4144I
Then He came to the three and found
them asleep and saith unto Peter: Isl
mon, sleepeSt thou: CouldeSt thou not
watch with me one hour? Watch We
and pray lest We enter into temptation
The spirit indaed is willing. but the
flesh is weak" He went away the sec
ond time and prayed the same words,
and returned and found them asleep
again, and they did not know what to
answer Him.
He went away and prayed the third
time. saying the same words Then
He came the third time to the three
and said. sleep on now, and take your
rest, it is enough. the hour is come:
behold. the Son of Man is betrayed
into the hansS of sinners" Then He
returned to the eight and found them
also sleeping for sorrow. and said
why steep ye: Rise and pray lest
We enter into temptation" This at
tempt at conservative story of that
awful night in the garden may not be
quite correct in every detail. but it is
helpful even to try 10 do it. Do it for
yourself. and you will be blessed in
doing it
1t is clear that He prayed three
times, that He found them three times
sleeping. that He sweat. as it werr
drops of blood. that an angel strength
ened Him, that after His agony lie
was able to rise up and 20 10 meet
His enemies.
What shall We say of the favored
three who were also with Him at the
raising OF the rulers dan chtcr ana OH
the mount of transfgura ion and two
of them hOnOred To brin.; TO Him the
ass colt and to prepare the Passover:
What about their sleeping at His
TRANSPORTATION luke tx. 33). us we'll
Us in the garden. and the fact that
neither glory nor suffering can keep
such mOrtalS as we are awake: What
about the bOaSting of Peter and then
his not being able to watch. one hour:
Oh, the loneliness of il all on His
side. NO man knOweth the Son save
the Father" How can He continue
to love such as we are AMI ever hope
to make anything out of us? May His
patience with us make us more pa
fient with each other
AS to His own experience in the
garden we may be quite certain that
He was not shrinking from death on
the cross. nor was He asking t. be de
livercd from that. We know that the
devil tried TO Kill Him as babe in
Bethlehem and hy His own towuSmen
at Nazareth and possibly in the storm
on the lake. but he could not, for the
time had not come. Ny own convic
tiOn concerning His agony and hIo0dy
sweat in GethSenane iy; that il WAS gn-
other attempt Of the devil to kill Him
before the time and thus prevent His
great sacrifice for sin Oh Calvary. The
key to it is found in Heb. =. :. He
offered up prayers and s.pplications
with strong crying and fears unto
Him that was able 70 save Him from
death and was heard" 1t is the rec
ORR of His third weeping He prayed
to be saved from death. and lie was
heard and therefore saved from death.
the death in the garden which seem
ed Imminent. An angel came 70 Him
and strengthened Him that He might
go on to the cross and finish the great
atonement for sin which He came to
make. Yet He was willing to leave
HIS work unfinished and die in the
garden if His Father should so will it.