Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1910 — THE SAVIORS TEACHINGS BROOKLYN TABERNACLE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE SAVIORS TEACHINGS BROOKLYN TABERNACLE

THE DARK GETHSEMANE HOUR Matthew 26:36-40—November 20 “The Son of Umn i« betrayed into the hand S of sinners.”—f. HFTER the faster and his disciples, as Jews, had celebrated the Passover Supper and after he had subsequently instituted the Memorial of his death with the bread and the cup, and after Judas had gone out to betray him, Jesus and the remaining eleven left the upper room in Jerusalem, crossed the city to the gate and thence crossed the Valley Kedrou and ascended the sloping side of Mt. Olivet toward the Garden of Gethsemane. The word Gethsemane signifies oilpress. Tradition has it that this Garden belonged to the family of which the Apostles John and James were members, and that for this reason the Lord and his disciples were privileged to feel themselves at home there. St. Mark, the writer of one of the Gospels, but hot one of the Apostles, is credited with having been a member of the same family. One of the accounts of the arrest of the Master tells that amongst those who followed after him was a young man wrapped with a sheet and who fled naked when some members of the band attempted to lay hold of him. That young man, tradition says, years afterwards was known as St. Mark. The Journey to Gethsemane ’ This was the most memorable night of the Master's exjterienee. He knew perfectly the meaning of every feature of the Passover. He knew that he was the Lamb of God, antitypic&lly, whose death was to be accomplished on the following day by crucifixion. Yet his

thoughts were for his dear disciples. He must give them final words of encouragement and instruction. And so he did.. Three chapters of St. John’s Gospel record the incidents of the intervening time between the leaving of the upper room and the arriving at Gethsemane. the place of the oil-press. “And Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place, for Jesus oft times resorted thither with his disciples” (John viii, 2). In St. John xiv the Master told his disciples about the place be .would go to prepare for them, but that he would send the Spirit of Truth to

be tbeir Comforter and it would show them things to come. In the fifteenth chapter he gave them the parable of. the Vine and the Branches and assured them that no longer should they be servants, but friends. “For all things that I have beard of my Father I have made known unto you.” In the .sixteenth chapter lie explained to them that persecutions must be expected, if they would share his sufferings and be prepared to share his glory. A little while and they would not see him; then’again a little while and they would see him. The entire period of his absence, from the Divine standpoint, as compared to eternity, would be but a little while. Then, by virtue of the resurrection ‘‘change,” they would see him. because made like him. “In the world ye shall have, tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” - “These things I have given ijqto you that in me ye might have In the 17th chapter is recorded his wonderful prayer to the Father on behdlf of his followers- Apostles only, but for all those also who would believe on him- through their word.

in the Garden of Gethsemane - Thus discoursing they reached the Garden, or olive-yard, where the press for extracting the oil from the olives was located. Somewhere near the entrance eight of the disciples were bidden to remain watching white Jesus, with the specially beloved Peter, James and John, went a little further. And then, realizing the impossibility of even bis dearest friends appreciating his Sorrowful condition, he went still further alone to speak to the Father. The disciples, perplexed, astounded. by the things that they had heard from his lips, did not comprehend the true situation. They evidently thought that there must still be something parabolic in his utterances. They would indeed watch with him. but they were weary and sank into slumber. The spirit was Willing, but the was Weak. If some have queried why” the Master preferred to be alone in prayer so frequently, the answer Is, “I have trodden the wine-press alone; and of the people there was none with Die" (Isaiah lxiii. 3). His disciples and followers loved him dearly. Still he was alone, because he alone had been begotten of the holy Spirit. His followers could not feel so blessed nor be spirit-begotten until after his sacrifice had been finished nor until he would appear in the presence of God for them to apply his merit imputedly to them, to permit them to join with him sacrificially in the sufferings of this present time, that they might share with him also in the glories to follow. St. Peter, referring to the foregoing experience of our Lord, declares that he offered up strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from dqath and was heard in respect to that which he feared. Why did he fear? Do not all humanity face death, and some of them with great courage and some with bravado? Ah, there is a vast difference between the Master's standpoint and ours as respects death We were born dying. We never knew perfect life; We have always known that there is no escape from death. It was different with him. His experiences on the spirit plane before Coming into the world were all in association with life, perfection of lifer “In him was life” —uncontaminated, because lie was holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners; his life came not from Adam. He knew that in his perfection he ‘had v a right to life, if he would live in perfect accordance with the Divine requirements. But he knew also that

by special Covenant with God. “a Covenant by sacrifice.” he had agreed to the surrender of all his earthly rights and to allow his life to be taken from him. The Father had promised him a great reward of glory, honor and immortality through resurrection from the dead, but this Was dependent upon his absolute obedience in every particular—in word, in thought, in deed. The question was. Had he been absolutely loyal to God in every particular? If not death would mean to him an eternal extinction of being, not only the loss of heavenly glory promised as a reward, but the loss of everything. Can we tvonder that lie did not understand? The hour seemed so dark, and he said, “My soul is exceeding Sorrowful.” He knew that he was to die. He knew that death was necessary. Btit here, now, looming up before him on the morrow was a shameful execution as a blasphemer, as a criminal, as a violator of Divine law. Could it be possible that in anything, even slightly, be had taken to himself the honor due to the Father? Could it be possible that in any degree be had held back, even 'in his mind, from full obedience to the Father's will? Did this crucifixion as a criminal possibly mean the#Joss of Divine favor? Was it necessary that he should die thus? Might not this cup of ignominy pass? So he prayed in a great agony. And although the older Greek manuscripts do not contain the statement that he sweat great drops of blood, medical science tells us that such an experience would not have been at all impossible in a nervous, strained, mental agony. But we note the beautiful simplicity of the statement with which his prayer concluded—“ Nevertheless. my Father, not my will, but thy will, be done.”

How childlike and beautiful the faith and trust, even amidst strenuous 'agitation! St. Paul says that he'was heard in the thiug which he feared. How? God's auswer c-ame by angelic hands. An augel appeared and ministered to him—ministered to his necessity. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to those who shall he heirk of salvation?” (Hebrews i. 14.) We are not informed in what words this heavenly ministry was expressed to the Master in his lowliness and sorrow, bnt we do know that it must have been with full assurance of the Heavenly Father’s favor and sympathy and love. He was heard in respect to the things which ( he feared. He received the assurance that he was well-pleasing to the Father; that he had been faithful to his Covenant, and that he would have the resurrection promised.

“Behold the Lamb of God” From that moment onward the Master was the calmest of ail who had any association with the great events of that night and the following day. Officers, servants, Sanhedrin, priests, Herod and his men of war, Pilate and his soldiers, and the shoutiqg rabbleall were excited, all were distressed. Jesus only was calm. This was because he had the Father’s assurance that all was well between them. As this blessed assurance gave the Master courage, so his followers since have found, that, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” If we have the peace of God ruling in onr hearts, it is beyond ail human comprehension.

Business Head. “He can qualify for the meanest man.” “What did be dor “Bought his wife a new hat for $2 and marked the price up to $20.” “But that only made her feel better.” “It wouldn't have been so bad if he bad stopped at that. He held out $5 a week from household expenses for four weeks to make up for it”