Gethsemane: Where the Cross Began
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1. After the supper — a walk to the garden
After the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30). There, He brought Peter, James, and John to a quiet place: the Garden of Gethsemane.
> “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
> — Matthew 26:36
2. The meaning of “Gethsemane”
Gethsemane means “oil press” — a place where olives were crushed to extract their oil. It was no accident. Jesus, the Anointed One, was about to be pressed in spirit, soul, and body.
3. Deep anguish and honest prayer
Jesus shared with His closest disciples:
> “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
> — Matthew 26:38
Then He went a little farther and fell to the ground:
> “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
> — Matthew 26:39
Luke adds:
> “And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”
> — Luke 22:44
4. The disciples fell asleep — and the Lamb kept watch
Though Jesus asked them to stay awake, they fell asleep — more than once. He said:
> “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
> — Matthew 26:41
These words weren’t filled with anger but with grace. Jesus understood human weakness — then and now. Like the disciples, we too are prone to spiritual sleep in the hour of need.
5. Obedience sealed before the cross
Before the nails and thorns, there was a choice. In that garden, Jesus chose obedience — not for show, but in secret, in pain, in love.
> “He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet He did not open His mouth;
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so He did not open His mouth.”
> — Isaiah 53:7
> “And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself
by becoming obedient to death —
even death on a cross.”
> — Philippians 2:8
6. A call to stay awake
The garden scene confronts us. Jesus remained awake while others slept. In the parable of the ten virgins, some ran out of oil — and missed the moment. Are we keeping watch? Is our lamp burning?
Jesus stayed alert — for us.
7. Why did He do it?
> “But He was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on Him,
and by His wounds we are healed.”
> — Isaiah 53:5
Gethsemane was the altar before the cross. The Lamb didn’t run — He surrendered.