When Jesus had cautioned Peter, James and John, to watch and pray, "he
went forward a little, and was withdrawn from them about a stone's
cast, and kneeled down and prayed"; in the earnestness of His prayer,
"he fell on his face on the ground, and prayed that, if it were
possible, the hour might pass from him." It was not the death upon the
cross which Jesus prayed might pass from Him: human martyrs have borne
bodily sufferings and cruel deaths, supported by the grace of God; and
though in His human nature Christ might well shrink from the pain of
Crucifixion, He was ready to give His body for our redemption.
But his sufferings in the garden of Gethsemane, were far beyond what
any human being could suffer, or than we can understand. His heavenly
Father saw fit to let Him suffer for a time, all the unspeakable agony
which the just anger of God can lay upon the impenitent soul. And we
may well believe that this agony was a hundred-fold increased for Him,
Who was thereby to redeem countless myriads of souls. And might not
this terrible agony be increased, by the foreknowledge that, in spite
of His tremendous sacrifice, men would reject Him as a Saviour, and
persevere in sin; until by their impenitence, they too would share
those horrible agonies which for a time were laid upon Him, that by
enduring them, He might save all men from so terrible a condition?
When we thus consider of what nature Christ's sufferings in the garden
of Gethsemane were, we can fully understand the prayer, that such an
hour might pass from Him. But mark His inconceivable love, as shown in
the words, "if it were possible"; that is, if man's redemption could
possibly be secured without his passing through such dreadful agony;
if that were _not_ possible, then He was willing even to undergo that
awful and mysterious extremity of suffering.
Let us not pass on without taking a practical lesson from what has
been said: what made our Lord undergo such agony for us? Love. Then,
if He so loved us, what should be our feelings towards Him? Love.
Truly, love; sincere, heartfelt love; love that will show itself. But
how? Hear His own words, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." This
let us ever strive to do; and so, through the mediation of Jesus,
shall we escape those agonies, which for us He endured in the garden
of Gethsemane.
Jesus prostrate on the ground, prayed in the agony of His soul, and
said, "Abba, Father--O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass
from me: all things are possible unto thee: if thou be willing, remove
this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done." All
through this dreadful scene of agony, our blessed Lord sets us an
example of perfect submission to His Father's Will, however much that
Will may be contrary to our wishes and desires: this example we should
do well to follow, in every time of trouble. We may pray, that God
will, if He sees fit, remove from us the affliction or sorrow which we
feel or fear; but, at the same time, our hearts must be perfectly
submissive to His Will, and willing to continue to bear the suffering,
should He not see fit to take it away from us. In this spirit our Lord
in His human nature prayed to God; but though God saw fit to let Him
for a time suffer all the agony which sin brings on man, He did
vouchsafe to send Him some comfort, in this bitter time of trial; for
"there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening him," to
complete His work.
"And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as
it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he
rose up from prayer, he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them
sleeping from sorrow."
Had they obeyed the words of their Lord, to watch and pray, their
sorrow would not at such a time have made them sleep. But they had
failed to do this; and Satan, who _is_ ever watchful, had doubtless
taken advantage of this, and tempted them to sit thinking sorrowfully
of all that was coming upon their beloved Master, instead of obeying
His command, to watch and pray. Overcome with such sad thoughts, they
fell into a sort of stupor or heavy sleep, and were thus found by
Jesus when He returned to them. He awoke them, and "said unto them,
Why sleep ye? Simon, sleepest thou? What, could ye not watch with me
one hour?" Peter had but lately declared his readiness to do some
great thing, to give up his life for Jesus; and now he fails in doing
a little thing, merely praying for one hour. This is another proof of
man's weakness, and of the danger of self-confidence. Again our Lord
repeated the needful warning, "Watch ye, rise and pray, that ye enter
not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is
weak." Our Lord, who knew the weakness of man's nature, was thus
merciful to the failing of His disciples: but let us remember, that
the more we are convinced of the weakness of the flesh, and how it
hinders the spirit, the more earnestly must we strive to overcome it,
and be led by the spirit only.
"And Jesus went away again the second time, and prayed, and spake the
same words, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me
except I drink it, thy will be done. And when he returned, he found
them asleep again (for their eyes were heavy), neither wist they what
to answer him. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the
third time, saying the same words."
"Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now,
and take your rest; it is enough, the hour is come: behold the Son of
man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."
By this Jesus meant, that they had lost the opportunity of watching
with Him; they could no longer show any kindness by praying for Him:
He would no longer ask them to do this, for the time was come, when He
was to be given up to His enemies. Jesus did not mean that the
disciples were actually to lie still and sleep; for He added
immediately, "Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.
And immediately, while he yet spake, Judas, one of the twelve, having
received a band of men and officers from the Chief Priests and
Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns, and torches, and weapons."
Upon reading this passage, if we think at all, it must appear strange
that as the moon was at the full, it should have been necessary to
take lanterns and torches, as the light of the full moon in those
countries, is far too bright to need any other. But travellers tell
us, that in fact the light of the full moon only made the garden of
Gethsemane _darker_, for it is situated on the slope of the Mount of
Olives, away from the moon; that is, the moon at the time of the
Passover rises behind the Mount of Olives, and thus casts the shadow
of the mountain upon the garden of Gethsemane; so that whilst all
surrounding parts were lighted up, there was complete darkness amongst
the trees in the garden of Gethsemane. Judas, well knowing this, had
been careful to procure lanterns and torches, to render the execution
of his purpose easy; and now, leading the way, he cometh, "and with
him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the Chief Priests,
and the Scribes, and the elders of the people. Now he that betrayed
Him had given them a token," whereby the servants of the High Priests
might surely know which was Jesus. Judas had told them, "Whomsoever I
shall kiss, that same is he; take him, hold him fast, and lead him
away safely." A kiss was in those times a common form of salutation;
and a sign or token of respect and regard: Judas Iscariot now made use
of it for a very different purpose.
"And as soon as he was come," with his band, into the garden, "he went
before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. And forthwith he
came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said
unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Judas, betrayest thou the
Son of man with a kiss?" Jesus did not ask this question because He
needed to be told; but in order to give Judas another warning against
the sin he was about to commit.
The officers did not immediately lay hold upon Jesus; we can well
believe that His calm and dignified behaviour, and His question to
Judas, struck them with awe.
But Jesus, knowing all things that should come upon Him, now showed
his readiness to do his Father's Will: for "he went forth and said
unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus
saith unto them, I am he." As soon then as He had said unto them I am
He they went backward, and fell to the ground: whether in fear or out
of respect, we are not told; but in any case their behaviour made it
clear that the Saviour's sacrifice was a voluntary act; for He could
certainly, even as a man, have escaped. "Then asked he them again,
Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have
told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their
way." Even at such a moment, Jesus took care for His disciples, that
they might not suffer with Him: "that the saying might be fulfilled
which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me I have lost none."
By this time, the officers seem to have recovered from their surprise
and alarm: "Then came they and laid hands on Jesus, and took him." The
disciples now seem to have thought that it was time for them to use
the two swords, which they had brought for the deliverance of their
Master. "And behold one of them which were with Jesus, Simon Peter,
having a sword, stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck
a servant of the High Priest's and smote off his ear; the servant's
name was Malchus." "And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far."
These words seem to have been addressed to the Roman soldiers, who
would naturally be made very angry by such an occurrence taking place;
therefore he asked for their forbearance; though he at once removed
the cause of complaint--"for he touched the ear of the wounded man,
and healed him."