[Holy Week]: #14; GETHSEMANE

Then Jesus came with them to a place called
Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here
while I go and pray over there." And He took
with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee,
and He began to be sorrowful and deeply dis-
tressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is
exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay
here and watch with Me." He went a little far-
ther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying,
"O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass
from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You
will." Then He came to the disciples and found
them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could
you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and
pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit
indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again,
a second time, He went away and prayed, say-
ing, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away
from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done."
And He came and found them asleep again, for
their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went
away again, and prayed the third time, saying
the same words. Then He came to His disciples
and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and
resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son
of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sin-
ners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is
at hand."
--Matthew 26:36-46

                  GETHSEMANE

All those who journey, soon or late,
Must pass within the garden's gate;
Must kneel alone in darkness there,
And battle with some fierce despair.
God pity those who cannot say:
"Not mine but thine"; who only pray:
"Let this cup pass," and cannot see
The purpose in Gethsemane.

--Ella Wheeler Wilcox, 1855-1919