The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1925-02-12
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared Especially for The Repub-
lican by Rev. L. S. Wright, d. D.
JESUS IN GETHSEMANE

JESUS IN GEIHSEmANE
Mark 14:32-42.
Read Matt. 26:36-5G; Luke 22:39-53;
Heb. ST., 8.
Not what l will, but what thou wilt.-Mark
14:86.
THE GARDEN
Gardens have held large place in
the plans of God It was there the
race had its beginning and fought
its earliest battle. And the struggle
that drew blood from Jesus was set
also in a garden. Its old olive trees
are still the care of men and its shade
is the quest of visitors from all lands
who regard it as holy ground. 1t held
a press and was secluded from obser-
walton in the days of our Lord and
gave opportunity for restful quiet or
He would not have made it a favorite
retreat, Frequently resorting thith-
en-" 1t was midnight or more follow
ing the Thursday supper in the up
per room and the figures in close
company as they taken had come to
the kidron and had listened to the
prayer and had now passed the little
stream and entered the shadows cast
by the trees. The day had been long
and stirred emotions had taken of
their vitality so that they were all
ready enough to drop wherever the
balmy night offered rest. Eight of
them were left at the outer edge,
while four went a bit deeper into the
gloom where Jesus set the three also
to watch and went farther though
whiting plain view of the little COM
| pany that was in closest sympathy
with Himself. Jesus would have no
interruption if there was any way to
prevent it, and he wished to have His
friends within reach. Again and
again He came to them in quest of
some understanding of His wrought
feelings but had no reward of wistful
eyes or Of gripped hand telling that
another shared His vigil. Yet An
other did, for God was there and the
life plan of Jesus to pray things thru
/ was fully indicated. Prayer brought
response and the life that leans upon
it now finds it not to fail. For out
! of His perpleXity, out Of His sweat
ing agony, out of His falling upon
His face on the ground in the inten-
sity Of feeling, He came a King whose
mere word caused police and rabble
to fall before Him. His use of prayer
had brought the astounding change
that was marked by that effect upon
those who hated Him.
THE GARDENS SORROW
Under the shadows mystery walks
and thousand speculations have
been given as the cause of the in
tense agony Of Jesus. Some of these
may be brushed aside and one is the
fear of death. He had foretold His
resurrection and knew dying to be
but a passing shadow. Nor could it
have been the physical pain, since
many a follower has borne more in
tense suffering with singing lips and
has slept serenely as little child
knowing that the fagots would be
/ lighted at dawn. The prayer in He
! brews that was "heard" puts both
out of the question, for the experience
| OF the Cross was not mitigated. Some
/ factors we can understand. One is
the normal physical reaction after a
task is done. All that was possible
had been accomplished. Il have fin
ished the work" was His word, and
the sag is to be expected. The strain
of waiting for the Zero hour" in ut
! ter inaction is also an element. A
satanic attack was limited at in "the
prince of this world cometh," and
perpleXity is the content of amaze
ment so that there may have been the
recurrence of the old question of the
temptation as to the correctness of
the way that He was following For
escape was easily possible and flight
in the darkness would have evaded the
arrest. Was He making a mistake
in staying? There was the passion
ate love of our Lord for Jerusalem
that has been seen in His daring
death many times that He might win
the city to the only sane path of Sc
curity, in His frequent visits, in His
tears and sobs over it, and in His re-
proofs of its leadership that was di-
recting it towards destruction. Up
to this hour He had still hoped that
something might be accomplished,
but its action in using the treachery of
Judas has left nothing but the ruin
of both temple and state, and it was
simply maddening to see them close
the door. Imagine a burning house
and the inmates refusing to come out
and the picture before the mind of
Jesus may be partly understood. Then
in connection with it was the horri-
l.