"Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. (37) And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. (38) Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. (39) And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (40) And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? (41) Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (42) He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (43) And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. (44) And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. (45) Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (46) Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me."
We have here Christ's entrance upon his sufferings, in the garden Gethsemane. The whole life of Jesus had been a life of sorrow, for of him, and him only, by way of emphasis, can it be said, that he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief But here he is entering more especially upon the great work of sorrow, for which he became the surety of his people. And here it is therefore, that we need most eminently the teaching of God the Holy Ghost. I am aware how very little a way our discoveries carry us, when following the steps of Jesus by faith, into the garden of Gethsemane. If Peter, James, and John, whom Christ took with him there, fell under such a drowsiness as is described, how shall we hope to watch the footsteps of Jesus to any great discoveries of such an awful scene? Nevertheless, looking up for the teachings and leadings of the Holy Ghost, I would beg the Reader to accompany me, in following by faith, the Lord Jesus to Gethsemane's garden, in this dark and gloomy hour; and may the Lord be our teacher in beholding the glory of Christ, even in the depth of his soul travail, when he drank the cup of trembling to the dregs, that we might drink the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.
And here Reader, carrying on the same important idea with us all along, that in all Christ did, and all he suffered, he acted as the surety and representative of his people, let us first consider the suitableness of the place.
It was a garden, in which Jesus entered, to commence the first onset of suffering, when about to accomplish salvation by the sacrifice of himself. And it should be remembered, that it was in a garden where the devil first triumphed over our nature in the fall of man. Here therefore, Christ enters for our recovery. There was indeed this difference in the two places. Before the fall, this garden was an earthly Paradise. But now, it is the gloomy Gethsemane, close to the foul brook Cedron, into which all the filth of the sacrifices poured their contents. It was the very place adjoining to that memorable spot which good king Josiah polluted, by burning the vessels here, which had been used in idolatrous worship. 2 Kings 23:4-6. The Jews called it the valley of the children of Hinnom or Topheth, which was the only word they had for hell, after the Babylonish captivity. Scheol had been heretofore used for hell. Job 11:8. This was the awful spot where Christ in our nature entered when he went over the brook Cedron. Now as Satan had conquered the first Adam in the garden, and in him, made captive the whole race, and consequently in it the whole Church; Christ shall there also, as his Church's representative, begin to give the first deadly blow to sin and Satan. And although from hence he shall be taken (as the Prophet said) from prison and from judgment; be cut off out of the, land of the living, and for the transgression of his people be stricken; yet here shall the first over-throw to the kingdom of Satan be accomplished, and the victory of Christ; in a wonderful way be displayed. Isaiah 53:8
As we prosecute this awful business, every step we take seems to be more solemn and striking. The Evangelists who have described the state of Jesus, have each of them used different words, by way of expressing the feelings of Jesus. As if neither could find any language which fully came up to what those feelings really were. Matthew saith, that the Lord expressed himself as being in soul, exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. Mark's words are, that Jesus began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy. Mark 14:33. And it must be allowed by those who are at all acquainted with the original scriptures, the words in Mark, which our translators have rendered, s ore amazed, imply such an affright to the mind as when we say it makes the very hair stand on an end, and induceth a trembling and horror of the whole flame.
Luke, still varying from both, but yet, if possible, in stronger terms than either, represents Christ in an agony or combat; though there was none near him until an Angel was sent from heaven to strengthen him. The sweat which forced itself through the pores of his sacred body, was as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:43-44. And this was at a time, when in the night, and in the open air, and when we are told that the servants of the High Priest in common-hall, had found it so piercingly cold, as had compelled them to make a fire to warm themselves. John 18:18
Pause Reader! Before we go further, let us humbly look up and enquire into the cause! Here is no account of any pains of body the Redeemer had yet entered upon! The horrors of crucifixion though in view, were not felt. Here was no person near Christ Jesus was surrounded by no man. For though he had taken with him into the garden, Peter and the two sons of Zebedee; and though he had entreated them to watch with him, and pray that they might not enter into temptation; yet they were not near him! for we are told, that they were withdrawn from him about a stone's cast. Who withdrew them? What were they withdrawn for? Is it not plain, as Jesus said, that this was the enemy's hour and power of darkness? See Luke 22:41-53 and the Commentary upon the passage.
And what was the cause for which this Lamb of God was thus exercised? He who was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens! Hebrews 7:26. What can more decidedly confirm the scriptures of truth, than that as his Church's surety and representative, he who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21. He (as the Apostle saith) hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. Galatians 3:13. Here was the cause. It pleased Jehovah to put him to grief. The Father's hand was in the work. And hence the holy sufferer expressed himself in such strong words. Save me, O God! for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire where there is no standing. I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me, etc. Psalms 69:1-3. See also Psalms 22:1 throughout. Psalms 38:1 throughout.
Oh! ye my poor follow sinners who never yet felt sin; behold the exceeding sinfulness in the soul travail of Christ Jesus! Behold! (he saith) is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by: behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. Lamentations 1:12. Lord! let the contemplation fire my soul with love! They say, if in common life we bring the murderer of a dead man before the body, wonderful effects will follow; yea, that blood will flow afresh from the murdered, as if the unconscious body had sight of the murderer. Whether it be so or not; oh! for grace, dear Jesus, as my sins have induced thine agony and death, to delight to come before thee. And oh! let thy fresh flowing blood cleanse me, and cause my heart to bleed afresh, in the consciousness that by sin I have crucified my Lord!