Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-30
JESUS IN GETHSEMANE.
Luke, xxii.24-71.
Golden text, Father, II thou be
willing, remove this cup from me;
nevertheless not my will, but
thine, be done. Luke, xxii.42.

Gethsemane, the place "of the olive
press" has attained large place in the
history CT the world because it was the
place Jesus was accustomed to visit for
prayer. When Christ reached the great
crisis of His life, He left the Upper
ROOM" where He had opened His heart
to His apostles, warned them Of His ap-
preaching death, and prayed for them,
knowing that He was facing the turn
ing point in His own life. He conduct
ed the IL across the bridge over the
Kidron to the place upon the Mount
of olives, where He and his followers
had enjoyed seclusion and spiritual fell
lowship with the Father. He knew that
the end of His passion was rapidly APP
preaching. He felt the need of prayer.
In every important crisis in His career
He had sought the help, aid and assist
ance of His Heavenly Father through
prayer. He guided His apostles to the
quiet spot, known as GethSemane, SO
that He might fight out the battle OF
Calvary. Just as our Lord went forth
to mediate and pour out His soul in
communion, so we need in our study of
this lesson to turn aside to the place
where we are accustomed to meet the
Father in our daily prayer life, If we
W RIGSIJ IilG message VI IllC dBOsly
in Gethsemane which was unique in
the Masters life.
Christ probably had forced Judas and
those with whom the traitor had con-
spired when at the Passover Feast" He
had said to the betrayer, What thou
doest. do quickly" They may have hest
tated to arrest Jesus during the feast,
because of His popularity with the
masses attending the Passover, but when
they learned that He had retired to
Gethsemane, the orchard beyond the
deep ravine, Kidron, through which
flowed the torrent of water darkened
by the blood from the temple sacrifices,
Christ's enemies acted quickly. They
realized that they could secure His ar
rest and speed up His trial before the
people would be able to interfere with
their plans.
The Garden Watch.
Reaching the garden, which is one
of the most sacred places in Palestine.
because of the events which took place
that historic night within its Enclosure,
Jesus divided the apostles into two sec
tons. He did not desire that Judas
should come upon Him without signal
from those whom He stationed SO that
they could detect the approach Of any
strange company. He warned them Of
the peril that they faced and told the
eight. who formed the outside guard, to
pray that we enter not into tempta.
ton" He knew when He left them to
go short distance from them for
prayer that both His apostles and Him
self would be called upon to face trials
that would test their spiritual life, love
and loyalty. They were worn out, weary
and would fail to serve Him If they
allowed sleep to make them traitors to
His cause at that crucial moment. The
spirit with which we face our tempta-
tons determines whether we shall mas
ter them or be conquered by them.
Peter, James and John had shared
the fellowship of an inner circle. Peter
had boosted of his determination to be
loyal under all circumstances. Jesus
had warned him of his approaching de-
NAL. When the Master took them only
a short distance within the garden,
Matthew tells us that the Lord said
unto them, MY soul Is exceedingly sor-
rowful. even unto death, abide We here
and watch with me-" 1t was a signal to
Him that He had to face alone the final
clash with Satan. who would leave moth
ing undone to defeat the Master and
keep Him from completing His ministry.
His trial separated Him from them, but
He wanted them to obtain a blessing
lTOIn II, SO he urged THEM 10 WdCCIl, not
for Me, but with Me. Our gospel tells
only of one prayer, but studying the
other records we see how they failed
Him during his agony.
The Masters Agony.
They could not understand the suf-
ferings, struggle and sorrows of the
Christ at that moment. Looking back
upon the events we ought to have a
better understanding than they did. but
what man can enter into that agony
with the Lord Jesus if Peter, James and
John failed to watch with Him after
sharing with Him the glory of His
TRANSPORTATION, when they saw and
heard Moses and Elijah confer with Him
about his death? Certainly Jesus did
not fear the cross when He went "a
stones cast away from them and
prayed so loud that they must have
heard His earnest petitions. Our Lord
had entered the human race with the
purpose of dying upon the cross.
Throughout His life in the flesh He had