Teachings – Christ in the Garden

CHRIST IN THE GARDEN

UNFOLDING FORTY-FOUR

WHERE WE ARE

In the past two discourses, we have been with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, and standing in the courtyard with Peter as he watched the proceedings from a distance. There, Peter denied Christ three times before the cock crowed the third time as Jesus had prophesied. For us to judge Peter harshly, we ought to first examine ourselves. I cannot. Now, we return to the garden as Pastor focuses on our Lord and Saviour. 

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 5:18

“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

CHRIST IN THE GARDEN
UNFOLDING FORTY-FOUR

Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane. Why? Pastor provides the following insight:

“Do you not know that it was according to the Levitical law that the Israelites should sleep within the boundaries of Jerusalem on the Paschal night?” 

Thus, decided –

“So, our Lord selected a rendezvous within the liberties of the city, that He might not transgress even the slightest jot or tittle of the law.”

Yes, so Jesus went to a place that Iscariot would know where to look for Him. 

“If they seek me,’ He seemed to say, ‘I will be where they can readily find me, and lead me away.'”

Yes, but where Jesus went… ?

“It was not for Christ to give Himself up – that were like suicide; but it was not for Him to withdraw and secrete Himself – that were like cowardice.”

When Jesus was in the garden, what could be said of that place of His choosing?

“Christ’s spiritual suffering was altogether within the veil. No one could descry or describe it.”

Oh, on the cross, He allowed the…

“Greek and the Roman gather around in mockery, and see His flesh torn, and rent, and bleeding, but He did not let them go into the garden with Him to witness His anguish or His prayer. Within that enclosure none came but the disciples.”

And not all of the disciples – the one hundred and twenty if not more – were not allowed to come. Just the eleven, and then the three who Jesus bid to come and to stand watch. There, the three fell asleep.

Then we learn that Father sent an angel to strengthen Him, not to fight for Him, for

“Christ must fight alone.”

Indeed, the whole world knew not His soul-sufferings.

“Nay, the mass of His own people even do not know them, for they are not made conformable to those sufferings by a spiritual fellowship.”

In conclusion, Pastor shares his most intimate thought on that day –

“We cannot expect to know the length and breadth and height of these things, but as our own experience deepens and darkens we shall know more and more of what Christ suffered in the garden.”

THOUGHT GOING FORWARD

No, we cannot know presently the length and breadth and height of these things if we have cowered, slept. As to knowing His suffering, is our relationship with Jesus deepening? As it deepens, is it darkening? What is meant by darkening? I believe the closer our relationship with Jesus, the more and more we shall face the violence of that spiritual battle that rages, and yes, we shall suffer in behalf of our Lord. However, as we learn the suffering of Christ in our own being; t’is then we better understand what Jesus took upon Himself for us when He knelt and prayed in the garden. 

IN TRIBUTE TO SPURGEON’S LOVE OF SHORT RYHMES

We cannot know the length, breadth, or height of Christ’s sacrifice and anguish.
We cannot fathom or feel; imagine His agonies and sufferings – all real.
Not if we cling to our sin in stubborn resistance – our sin left unvanquished.
To say that you know? You understand? No, such is a pretender’s spiel.