Chapter 47 - In Gethsemane

CHAPTER 47

IN GETHSEMANE

IT WAS about ten o'clock this Thursday night when Jesus led the eleven apostles from the home of Elijah and Mary Mark to the Gethsemane camp.

The Last Group Prayer

A few minutes after arriving at camp, Jesus said to them:

• "My friends and brethren, my time with you is now very short, and I desire that we draw apart by ourselves while we pray to our Father in heaven for strength to sustain us in this hour and henceforth in all the work we must do in his name."

He led the way a short distance up on Olivet. There, in full view of Jerusalem, he bade them kneel on a large flat rock in a circle about him. As he stood there in the midst of them, glorified in the mellow moonlight, he lifted up his eyes toward heaven and prayed:

• "Father, my hour has come. Glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you. I know that you have given me full authority over all living creatures in my realm, and I will give eternal life to all who will become faith sons of God. And this is eternal life, that my creatures should know you as the only true God and Father of all, and that they should believe in him whom you sent into the world. Father, I have exalted you on earth and have accomplished the work that you gave me to do. I have almost finished my bestowal upon the children of our own creation. There remains only for me to lay down my life in the flesh. And now, O my Father, glorify me with the glory that I had with you before this world was and receive me once more at your right hand.

• "I have manifested you to the men whom you chose from the world and gave to me. They are yours -- as all life is in your hands -- you gave them to me, and I have lived among them, teaching them the way of life, and they have believed. These men are learning that all I have comes from you, and that the life I live in the flesh is to make known my Father to the worlds. The truth that you have given to me I have revealed to them. These, my friends and ambassadors, have sincerely willed to receive your word. I have told them that I came forth from you, that you sent me into this world, and that I am about to return to you. Father, I do pray for these chosen men. And I pray for them not as I would pray for the world, but as for those whom I have chosen out of the world to represent me to the world after I have returned to your work, even as I have represented you in this world during my sojourn in the flesh. These men are mine. You gave them to me. But all things that are mine are ever yours, and all that which was yours you have now caused to be mine. You have been exalted in me, and I now pray that I may be honored in these men. I can no longer be in this world. I am about to return to the work you have given me to do. I must leave these men behind to represent us and our kingdom among men. Father, keep these men faithful as I prepare to yield up my life in the flesh. Help these, my friends, to be one in spirit, even as we are one. As long as I could be with them, I could watch over them and guide them, but now am I about to go away. Be near them, Father, until we can send the new teacher to comfort and strengthen them.

• "You gave me twelve men, and I have kept them all save one, the son of revenge, who would not have further fellowship with us. These men are weak and frail, but I know we can trust them. I have proved them. They love me, even as they reverence you. While they must suffer much for my sake, I desire that they should also be filled with the joy of the assurance of sonship in the heavenly kingdom. I have given these men your word and have taught them the truth. The world may hate them, even as it has hated me, but I do not ask that you take them out of the world, only that you keep them from the evil in the world. Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth. And as you sent me into this world, even so am I about to send these men into the world. For their sakes I have lived among men and have consecrated my life to your service that I might inspire them to be purified through the truth I have taught them, and the love I have revealed to them. I well know, my Father, that there is no need for me to ask you to watch over these brethren after I have gone. I know you love them even as I, but I do this that they may the better realize the Father loves mortal men even as does the Son.

• "And now, my Father, I would pray not only for these eleven men but also for all others who now believe, or who may hereafter believe the gospel of the kingdom through the word of their future ministry. I want them all to be one, even as you and I are one. You are in me and I am in you, and I desire that these believers likewise be in us, that both of our spirits indwell them. If my children are one as we are one, and if they love one another as I have loved them, all men will then believe that I came forth from you and be willing to receive the revelation of truth and glory that I have made. The glory that you gave me I have revealed to these believers. As you have lived with me in spirit, so have I lived with them in the flesh. As you have been one with me, so have I been one with them, and so will the new teacher ever be one with them and in them. And all this have I done that my brethren in the flesh may know that the Father loves them even as does the Son, and that you love them even as you love me. Father, work with me to save these believers that they may presently come to be with me in glory and then go on to join you in the Paradise embrace. Those who serve with me in humiliation, I would have with me in glory. I long to show my earthly brethren the glory I had with you before the founding of this world. This world knows very little of you, righteous Father, but I know you, and I have made you known to these believers, and they will make known your name to other generations. Even now I promise them that you will be with them in the world even as you have been with me -- even so."

Last Hour Before the Betrayal

The apostles were greatly shocked when they returned to their camp and found Judas absent.

While the eleven were engaged in a heated discussion of their traitorous fellow apostle, David Zebedee and John Mark took Jesus to one side and revealed that they had kept Judas under observation, and that they knew he intended to betray him.

Jesus listened to them but only said:

• "My friends, nothing can happen to the Son of Man unless the Father in heaven so wills. Let not your hearts be troubled. All things will work together for the glory of God and the salvation of men."

The cheerful attitude of Jesus was waning. As the hour passed, he grew more and more serious, even sorrowful. Returning from his talk with David and John, he addressed his last words to all eleven, saying:

• "My friends go to your rest. Prepare yourselves for the work of tomorrow. Remember, we should all submit ourselves to the will of the Father in heaven. My peace I leave with you."

As they went, he called to Peter, James, and John, saying,

• "I desire that you remain with me for a little while."

Before going to their separate sleeping quarters, Simon Zelotes led the others over to his tent, where were stored the swords and other arms. All of them received these arms and girded themselves therewith except Nathaniel.

Nathaniel, in refusing to arm himself, said:

• "My brethren, the Master has repeatedly told us that his kingdom is not of this world, and that his disciples should not fight with the sword to bring about its establishment. I believe this. I do not think the Master needs to have us employ the sword in his defense. We have all seen his mighty power and know that he could defend himself against his enemies if he so desired. If he will not resist his enemies, it must be that such a course represents his attempt to fulfill his Father's will. I will pray, but I will not wield the sword."

When Andrew heard Nathaniel's speech, he handed his sword back to Simon Zelotes.

Continuing

While Peter, James, and John were standing by, Jesus called to David Zebedee:

• "Send to me your most fleet and trustworthy messenger."

David brought one Jacob, and Jesus, addressing him, said:

• "In all haste, go to Abner at Philadelphia and say: `The Master sends greetings of peace to you and says that the hour has come when he will be delivered into the hands of his enemies, who will put him to death. But that he will rise from the dead and appear to you shortly, before he goes to the Father, and that he will then give you guidance to the time when the new teacher shall come to live in your hearts.'"

And when Jacob had rehearsed this message to the Master's satisfaction, Jesus said:

• "Fear not what any man may do to you, Jacob, for this night an unseen messenger will run by your side."

Then Jesus turned to the chief of the visiting Greeks who were encamped with them:

• "My brother, be not disturbed by what is about to take place since I have already forewarned you. The Son of Man will be put to death at the instigation of his enemies, the chief priests and the rulers of the Jews, but I will rise to be with you a short time before I go to the Father. And when you see this come to pass, glorify God and strengthen your brethren."

David had arranged to stand guard that night on the upper trail that led to the Bethany-Jerusalem road, while John Mark was to watch along the road coming up by the Kidron to Gethsemane.

Before David went, he bade farewell to Jesus, saying:

• "Master, I have had great joy in my service with you. My brothers are your apostles, but I have delighted to do the lesser things as they should be done, and I shall miss you with all my heart when you are gone."

And then said Jesus to David:

• "David, my son, others have done that which they were directed to do, but this service have you done of your own heart, and I have not been unmindful of your devotion. You, too, shall some day serve with me in the eternal kingdom."

And then, as he prepared to go on watch by the upper trail, David said to Jesus:

• "You know, Master, I sent for your family, and I have word by a messenger that they are tonight in Jericho. They will be here early tomorrow forenoon since it would be dangerous for them to come up the bloody way by night."

And Jesus, looking down upon David, only said:

• "Let it be so, David."

Alone in Gethsemane

After all was still and quite about the camp, Jesus, taking Peter, James, and John, went a short way up a near-by ravine where he had often before gone to pray and commune. The three apostles could not help recognizing that he was grievously oppressed. Never before had they observed their Master to be so heavy-laden and sorrowful. He bade the three sit down and watch with him while he went off about a stone's throw to pray.

And when he had fallen down on his face, he prayed:

• "My Father, I came into this world to do your will, and so have I. I know that the hour has come to lay down this life in the flesh, and I do not shrink there from, but I would know that it is your will that I drink this cup. Send me the assurance that I will please you in my death even as I have in my life."

The Master remained in a prayerful attitude for a few moments, and then, going over to the three apostles, he found them sound asleep.

As Jesus awoke them, he said:

• "What! Can you not watch with me even for one hour? Cannot you see that my soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death, and that I crave your companionship?"

The Master again went apart by himself, and falling down on the ground, again prayed:

• "Father, I know it is possible to avoid this cup -- all things are possible with you -- but I have come to do your will, and while this is a bitter cup, I would drink it if it is your will."

A mighty angel came down by his side, and speaking to him, touched him and strengthened him.

When he found the three asleep again, he awakened them, saying:

• "In such an hour I need that you should watch and pray with me -- all the more do you need to pray that you enter not into temptation -- wherefore do you fall asleep when I leave you?"

And then, for a third time, the Master withdrew and prayed:

• "Father, you see my sleeping apostles. Have mercy upon them. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak. And now, O Father, if this cup may not pass then would I drink it, not my will but yours, be done."

He lay for a moment prostrate on the ground, then he arose and went back to his apostles, who where asleep again.

He surveyed them, and with a pitying gesture, tenderly said:

• "Sleep on now and take your rest. The time of decision is past. The hour is now upon us wherein the Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of his enemies."

As he reached down to shake them that he might awaken them, he said:

• "Arise, let us be going back to the camp. For behold, he who betrays me is at hand, and the hour has come when my flock shall be scattered. But I have already told you about these things."