Verse 1
GETHSEMANE
‘Jesus … went forth with His disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden.’
I. Sorrow experienced.—The agony and bloody sweat ( Matthew 26:36; Luke 22:44).
II. Indignity suffered.—The traitor’s kiss ( Matthew 26:49) and the soldiers’ assault ( John 18:3 ; John 18:12).
III. Majesty displayed.—Christ’s advance towards the band ( John 18:4) and announcement of Himself ( John 18:5-Joshua :).
IV. Power exerted.—The hurling of the band to the ground ( John 18:6) and the restraining of them while the disciples escaped ( John 18:8).
V. Love manifested.—Christ’s care for His own. ‘Let these go their way’ ( John 18:8).
VI. Mercy extended.—The healing of the servant’s ear ( Luke 22:51).
VII. Submission rendered.—The drinking of the Father’s cup ( John 18:11).
Illustration
‘A great painter, who painted the Man of Sorrows, as an act of the highest worship, showed at once his genius and his reverence by hiding the marred visage, leaving the less noble parts to reveal the agony that had broken His heart. So to us Gethsemane ought ever to be a veiled holy of holies, to be visited, if at all, only at moments when we can look with purified eyes, and allow the meaning of the Saviour in His Passion to steal softly into our minds. We are here on holy ground, and must stand, as it were, in spirit, bareheaded and barefooted, reverent while inquiring.’
(SECOND OUTLINE)
THE SHADOWED GARDEN
From Bethlehem to Calvary Christ’s way was one long Via Dolorosa—the shadow of the Cross was flung before each onward step—but here is agony and bloody sweat indeed, and we may well believe that
‘Weeping angels stood confounded
Here’s my claim, and here alone;
None a Saviour more can need.
Deeds of righteousness I’ve none;
No, not one good work to plead.
Not a glimpse of hope for me,
Only in Gethsemane.
Saviour, all the stone remove
From my flinty, frozen heart;
Thaw it with the beams of love,
Pierce it with a blood-dipped dart.
Wound the heart that wounded Thee,
Melt it in Gethsemane.’
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