Description

Gethsemane

After all the stories we’ve told, there yet remains one story more important than any other – The Savior’s atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane. This is a story that needs to be heard and understood by anyone who has ever wrestled with the bitterness of guilt and the blush of shame, by anyone who has ever felt burdened and inadequate, by anyone who has ever felt worthless and alone, and by anyone who has ever felt that life had no purpose and was not worth living.

After the singing of a hymn, Jesus and the Twelve Apostles left the upper room of the last supper and made their way out of Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives. Taking Peter, James, and John, Jesus enters the Garden of Gethsemane, a place where olives were grown and then crushed under intense pressure to extract their live-sustaining oil.

Jesus invites the three apostles to “…tarry…and watch.” (Mark 14:34)

He then goes about a stones throw away and collapses face-first to the ground praying, “…O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39)

After some time in prayer, Jesus returns to the three apostles, and interestingly enough, they are asleep. Jesus wakes them saying, “…What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation…” (Matthew 26:40-41)

Jesus leaves them again, and again in incomprehensible physical and spiritual agony brought on by the sins of all mankind and the onslaught of all Hell itself, He bows beneath the load and prays, “…O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.” (Matthew 26:42)

Luke records that “…there appeared unto Him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 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.” (Luke 22:43-44)

When He returns the third time, the apostles are again asleep. Shortly, Judas comes and betrays the Master with a kiss. Jesus is then arrested, and with a rope around His neck, is led away eventually to the cross where His atoning sacrifice is completed.

The Savior took upon Him in that garden the sins, pains, sicknesses, and infirmities of His people. His atonement was an infinite burden of sin and an endless stream of individuals. For that moment in time, He who knew no sin and guilt became for us the greatest sinner of them all.

Truly, He is our compassionate high priest that can “…be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” (Hebrews 4:15)

He understands us, and can help us as no one else can.

By virtue of His precious blood shed from every poor of His body, He stands between us and justice, pleading our cause eternally.

My friends, the Atonement of Jesus Christ is not a legend of long ago and far away. It is a vital truth, an active principal so intimate and intertwined with our daily existence, that even now we would fall in profound gratitude if we had even a mustard seed of a glimpse.

I tell this sacred story because more than anything, I want the hopeless and overwhelmed to have hope. I know how much He can help. Therefore, “Let us…come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

May the Lord bless us.