Gethsemane

This is Passion week.  It is the week that Jesus spent in Jerusalem prior to His death.  The Bible records that Jesus spent the week interacting with his disciples, Jewish leaders, and the masses who followed him.  Here’s an excellent resource that graphically depicts the events for the week – Holy Week Timeline.

The week ends with Jesus all alone in a place called Gethsemane.  It is a garden area at the foot of the Mount of Olives.  The place literally means “oil press.”  How significant since the Son of God will be significantly “pressed” on this night preceding His death.

Jesus at Gethsemane

This is an awesome picture of what the scene at Gethsemane might have looked like.  I like this image because it captures some of the anguish.  You have probably seen other images of Jesus looking resolutely up to heaven.  The Bible does not depict it to be this tranquil or serene.  It pictures Jesus in agony.  Why?

“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44).  Jesus is in anguish.  Something has Him so consumed that He is literally sweating blood.  What has brought this man who has seemed quite able to handle any situation literally to His knees?

The Bible tells us the answer.  “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).  Jesus knows that God the Father is sending Him to the cross.  And at that cross all of the wrath of God will be poured out onto Jesus for the sins of the world.  In this instant, the One who has known perfect communion with God and has never performed any sin will literally bear the weight of all sins!  Can you see why Jesus says, “If you are willing, take this cup from me.”  If there is another way, please find it!

We all know the answer.  God knew that there was no other way to remedy the problem of sin.  A perfect sacrifice had to be made.  The sacrifice would be His son.

Having read this story many times, I have often said that Gethsemane was harder for Jesus than the crucifixion.  It was at Gethsemane where He wrestled, it was at the cross where He submitted.

This is the old, old story.  It is the story of Jesus who went down, down, down to death.  Death he did not deserve.  It was a death motivated by love.

And His death will ultimately result in life.  That is the story of Easter.  Jesus breaks the bonds of death, not just for Himself, but for all who find Him and glory in His sacrifice.

We cannot have an Easter without going through a tomb.  Somber words.  But never truer.