The Coolidge examiner., 1936-06-05

PRIMARY TOPIC - When Jesus
Prayed in the Garden.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Jesus in Geth-
semane.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIC-The Loyal Christ.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-Doing the Fathers Will
Jesus went from the upper room
where the last supper was eaten
to the Garden of GethSemane. Night
had now fallen.
|. Jesus at the Mount of Olives
". 39).
The garden was favOrite resort
Of Jesus and his disciples on the
slope of the Mount of Olives, a short
distance east of Jerusalem Matt
26 :30). Gethsemane means ''oil
press" and the garden was a
place where the oil was crushed
out of olives. There is a strik-
ing significance in Jesus coming
to this place. Olive oil was pre-
cious, being used both for food and
lighting. The bruising and crushing
of Christ in this garden has yield
ed the largest blessings to the
world-fOod for the souls of men,
and light for their lives.
II. His Companions wv. 80, 40).
Peter, James and John, who had
been with him on the Mount of
TRANSPORTATION, were permitted to
go with him into the deep shadows
of the garden Matt. 26:3O. He
took those who were best able to
apprehend the meaning of the tragic
hour, and, too, as a human being
he craved sympathy. Knowing the
peculiar trial that would be theirs
when the Shepherd should be smit-
ten, his purpose was to prepare
them for it. 1t was well that they
taste the bitter cup of which he
drank, and of which they, too, would
later drink.
III. Jesus in Prayer wv. 41-44.
1. Withdrawal from the disciples
". 41). Even the members of the
inner circle could not go with him
through this hour. He went apart
from them, for he must be alone
with his Father in this darkest
hour. Thus alone he kneeled and
prayed.
>. What he said (v. 42). eff thou
be willing, remove this cup from
me-" The cup did not primarily
mean the physical sutferings of the
cross, though they were exceeding
great. He did not now desire to
escape from the cross and thus
to stop short of his redemptive
work, for this was the supreme pur-
pose of his coming into the world
(Heb. 2:14). Rather it was the re-
vulsion of his holy nature from the
burden of sin which he was rep
resentatively to bear when the cross
was placed upon him. He, indeed,
was to be made sin for us who
knew no sin (II Cor. 5:2D. He was
so completely identified with a sim
ming race that the judgment of a
holy God which rightfully would
have fallen upon it, was about to
strike him.
The cup, therefore, meant his
death as the bearer of sin. He came
to Gethsemane with a full knOwl-
edge of what it meant, and here
he bowed in submission to the Fa-
theirs will. The agony of this hour
drew from his brow as it were great
drops of blood, but an angel came
and strengthened him, and from
that place of victory he went with
unfaltering steps to the cross.
w. The Sleeping Disciples (vv
40, 46).
Though they had boasted Of thell
fidelity Matt :35), they could
not watch with him one hour
They were so benumbed by per.
plexities and sorrow that they slept
and could not watch with Jesus one
little hour. In giving them a gentle
rebuke, he bade them pray lest they
fall into temptation.
v. Jesus Betrayed wv. At, 4S).
1. The betrayer ". 40 was Ju-
das, who had been at the last sup
per with Jesus; who had journeyed
up and down the land with the
Lord and his disciples. The fact
that he had listened to Jesus teach
ings, had witnessed his miracles
had been with him in seasons OF
prayer John 1922, intensified the
horror of his deed.
.. The sign of betrayal ". AID
was a kiss, the age-lOng token OF
most tender affection and friend
ship. The betrayer now degraded
that symbol of love by making ii
the instrument of disloyalty and
treason.
8. The words that Jesus spoke
(v. 49, to the infamous disciple re.
veal the infinite tenderness of his
heart. But so hardened was the
heart of the betrayer that he car
ried through his brutal contract
to deliver the Redeemer of men fol
thirty pieces of silver. The money
was in his purse; he must not
weaken. The deed was done.
Shall not those who study this