Jesus Went to the Garden to Pray

Gardening can be a lot of work but the results are always worth it.  My friends know that I love my garden. When the flowers are blooming I bring cut stems inside to enjoy the color and fragrance in a bouquet.  It is very relaxing to sit on my back patio and enjoy the sun, garden and many birds flying about. The garden of Gethsemane was well known to Jesus and his disciples.  It can get very hot in Israel and this was probably a nice quiet place to rest under the coolness of the trees. From the Mount of Olives you can look across the Kidron Valley and see the city of Jerusalem and the Temple Dome.  After Jesus and his disciples had finished what would be their last Passover together he led them there.

 

 

 

Matthew:30:26  states, ” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”  What hymn did the disciples sing?       The Hallell is traditionally chanted at Passover which includes parts of Psalms 113-118.  These are songs of praise for God’s salvation.

 

Psalm 114:1–4 
When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back.
The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.

 

  Psalm 116:12–14 
What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,
I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.

 

The olive grove was called Gethsemane which simply means olive press. Judas, the betrayer, knew of this place, because Jesus often went there with his disciples. However, this visit was not  for quiet reflection.  Jesus asked them all to stay awake and pray while he moved only a stone’s throw away. The big meal and lateness of the day proved too much for the weary men.

 

 

Mark 14:33–36 (ESV) (also recorded in Matthew 26:36-46)
And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.   And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.”  And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.  And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

 

“Abba Father” is an endearing term like us calling out Daddy or dearest Dad. Jesus was begging God to find another way to save the world if possible. Otherwise he was determined to fulfill His Father’s will and His purpose for coming. Jesus although fully God shows that he is fully human by his prayer in the garden. Luke recorded (Ch.22)  that as Jesus was crying an angel appeared and strengthened him. Jesus was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

 

 

 

Soon a large crowd armed with torches, clubs and swords would disturb the quite night.  Roman soldiers and Temple guards followed Judas waiting for the prearranged signal.  Jesus fully knew what was coming next but asked them who they were looking for.  The soldiers all fell back at the very power in the Name of God.   I AM.

 

John 18:5–6     They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.  When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

 

Jesus calmly surrendered to the soldiers. They took him down the mountain to Annas the high priest who then sent them to the home of Caiaphas the high priest appointed by Rome. The disciples all fled.  Throughout the night the high council interrogated our Lord. It was in this courtyard Peter denied even knowing Jesus. It looked like chaos and that the evil leaders were getting their way.  However, The Great I Am was very much in control and fulfilling all prophecy concerning Jesus’ life and death.

This simple ordinary olive garden holds great lessons about Jesus’ full humanity, humility and ultimate obedience.  During Holy Week take some time to sit or walk outside and meditate on Jesus’ last week and all He acomplished.

 

 

 

The Mount of Olives today.  The trees in the Garden of Gethsemane  are over 800 years old and are believed to be grown from shoots that lived when Jesus was there. The church of all nations sits beside them.