Description

His Sorrow In Gethsemane

On the last night of the Savior’s life He entered the Garden of Gethsemane with his disciples; all of them being subjected to feelings and emotions exquisitely intense. “The disciples began to be sore amazed and very heavy and to complain in their hearts, wondering if this be the Messiah” (Mark 14:32 JST).

The record says that Jesus himself “began to be sorrowful and very heavy” (Matthew 26:37). His burden, impossible as it already was, must have been made much worse by the knowledge in his heart that his disciples; his closest friends, were doubting him and complaining of him at this crucial hour.

Consider these words just before He stepped away from them,

“My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here and watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38)

Why did He invite Peter, James, and John to accompany Him? What did He ask them to stay close and watch Him? I can’t know all the reasons but at least two reasons stand out. First: They were to be His witnesses of this most transcendent event in all human history. Second: They were His friends and He was asking them, in effect, ‘Don’t leave me—stay with me!’

He went from them a short distance, knelt and then fell on his face on the ground saying, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will but thine be done” (Mark 14:36 JST).

What is happening to Him? Clearly it is more than a heartfelt prayer. Whatever this cup is, he has been referring to it and preparing for it from the beginning. Whatever it is it has crushed him to the earth and brought him to the point of death. It is so terrible that “there appeared an angel unto him from heaven strengthening him” (Luke 22:43). His pain was total. It consumed His body, His mind, His emotions, His Spirit. The agony and anguish was on a level that defies all description which makes His words, “Take away this cup from me” even more meaningful. The pain was too much, even for Him. He asked for it to be removed, but then said, “Not my will but thine be done.” Jesus had learned by His own experience that God’s will must be done—not should, or ought to be, but must. Only His will can be ultimately trusted. That statement in light of His pain is astounding beyond measure. Can you imagine?

And then Luke records what has to be one of the most meaningful verses in all the sacred writings, “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and he sweat as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44 JST).

The Lord’s body is racked with agony such that great drops of his blood were forced from every pore of his body. Isaiah had spoken of this moment when “he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4).

Since the beginning of time God had commanded his children to sacrifice animals as a type and shadow of this moment. He had decreed that “the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for your soul” (Leviticus 17:11). Since that time the children of Israel had taken their animals, placed their own sins upon them, and then shed their blood upon the ground as an atonement; worshiping the Christ, the real Lamb of God, as they did so.

In His body Christ did what no Pascal lamb could ever do. Our sins were not only placed on him, but they passed through him as well. The sacrificial lambs never felt the anguish that he did, which suffering caused him “to tremble because of pain and to suffer both body and spirit” (D&C 19:18).

Here, and at the Cross, He “bare our sins in his own body” (1 Peter 2:24). Hence, the Master asks us to remember his body. It was the sacred instrument of the atonement allowing him to “justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11).

Christ’s blood represented his life. To take his blood was to take the life of a God. That precious blood that dripped upon the ground that night was payment for our sins. As John said, “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Anciently the saints worshiped and pondered the meaning as a lamb died before them. The bread and water of the sacrament are sacred tokens of remembrance. By them we have communion with him and remission of sins.

And now, what of His three trusted friends called to witness during this terrible eternal ordeal? They fell asleep—not once, but three times. To Peter He said,

Simon, sleepest thou? Could ye not watch with me one hour? (Mark 14:37)

Can you imagine how their sorrow and sleep must have hurt? In the indisputable darkest night of His life, His friends fell asleep. Three times they slumbered while He suffered. Can you imagine or ever tell Him anything about being abandoned in your time of need?