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74 - The Desire of Ages - Ellen Gould · Philosophy and Faith

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Gasimone. In company with his disciples, the Savior slowly made his way to
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the garden of Gassimone. The passover moon broad and full shone from a cloudless
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sky. The city of Pilgrim's Tints was hushed into silence. Jesus had been
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earnestly conversing with his disciples and instructing them, but as he neared Gassimone,
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he became strangely silent. He had often visited this spot for meditation and prayer,
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but never with a heart so full of sorrow as upon this night of
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his last agony. Throughout his life on earth, he had walked in the
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light of God's presence. When in conflict with men who were inspired by the
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very spirit of Satan, he could say, he that sent me is with
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me. The Father hath not left me alone, for I do always those
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things that please him John eight twenty nine. But now he seemed to be
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shut out from the light of God's sustaining presence. Now he was numbered with
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the transgressors. The guilt of fallen humanity. He must bear upon him who
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knew no sin must be laid, the iniquity of us all so dreadful do
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scent appear to him. So great is the weight of guilt which he must
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bear, that he is tempted to fear it will shut him out forever from
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his father's love. Feeling how terrible is the wrath of God against transgression,
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he exclaims, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. As they
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approached the garden, the disciples had marked the change that came over their master.
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Never before had they seen him so utterly sad and silent. As he
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proceeded, this strange sadness deepened, yet they dared not question him as to
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the cause. His forms swayed as if he were about to fall. Upon
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reaching the garden, the disciples looked anxiously for his usual place of retirement,
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that their master might rest. Every step that he now took was with labored
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effort. He groaned aloud, as if suffering under the pressure of a terrible
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burden. Twice his companion supported him, or he would have fallen to the
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earth. Near the entrance to the garden, Jesus left all but three of
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the disciples, bidding them pray for themselves and for him. With Peter,
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James, and John, he entered its secluded recesses. These three disciples were
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Christ's closest companions. They had beheld his glory on the Mount of Transfiguration.
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They had seen Moses and Elijah talking with him. They had heard the voice
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from heaven. Now, in his great struggle, Christ desired their presence near
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him. Often they had passed the night with him in this retreat. On
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these occasions, after a season of watching in prayer, they would sleep undisturbed
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at a little distance from their master, until he awoke them in the morning
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to go forth anew to labor. But now he desired them to spend the
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night with him in prayer. Yet he could not bear that even they should
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witness the agony he was to endure. Tarry ye here, he said,
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and watch with me. He went a little distance from them, not so
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far but that they could both see and hear him, and fell prostrate upon
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the ground. He felt that by sin he was being separated from his father.
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The gulf was so broad, so black, so deep, that his
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spirits shuddered before it. This agony he must not exert his divine power to
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escape. As man, he must suffer the consequences of man's sin. As
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man, he must endure the wrath of God against transgression. Christ was now
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standing in a different attitude from that in which he had ever stood before.
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His suffering can best be described in the words of the prophet Awake, O
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sword against my shepherd and against the man that is my fellow. Set the
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Lord of host sachoriah. Thirteen seven as a substitute and surety for sinful man.
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Christ was suffering under divine justice. He saw what justice meant. Hitherto
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he had been as an intercessor for others. Now he longed to have an
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intercessor for himself. As Christ felt his unity with the Father broken up,
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he feared that in his human nature he would be unable to endure the coming
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conflict with the powers of darkness. In the wilderness of temptation. The destiny
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of the human race had been at stake. Christ was then conqueror. Now
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the tempter had come for the last fearful struggle. For this he had been
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preparing during the three years of Christ's ministry. Everything was at stake with him.
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If he failed here, his hope of mastery was lost. The kingdoms
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of the world would finally become Christ. He himself would be overthrown and cast
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out. But if Christ could be overcome, the earth would become Satan's kingdom
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and the human race would be forever in his power. With the issues of
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the conflict before him, Christ's soul was filled with dread of separation from God.
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Satan told him that if he became the surety for a sinful world,
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the separation would be eternal. He would be identified with Satan's kingdom and would
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never more be one with God. And what was to be gained by this
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sacrifice, how hopeless appeared the guilt and ingratitude of men. In its hardest
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features. Satan pressed the situation upon the redeemer. The people who claim to
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be above all others in temporal and spiritual advantages have rejected you. They are
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seeking to destroy you, the foundation, the center and seal of the promises
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made to them as a peculiar people. One of your own disciples, who
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has listened to your instruction and has been among the foremost in church activities,
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will betray you. One of your most zealous followers will deny you, all
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will forsake you. Christ's whole being abhorred the thought that those whom he had
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undertaken to save those whom he loved so much should unite in the plots of
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satan. This pierced his soul. The conflict was terrible. Its measure was
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the guilt of his nation, of his accusers and betrayers, the guilt of
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a world lying in wickedness. The sins of men weighed heavily upon Christ,
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and the sense of God's wrath against sin was crushing out his life. Behold
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him contemplating the price to be paid for the human soul. In his agony,
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he clings to the cold ground, as if to prevent himself from being
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drawn farther from God. The chilling dew of night falls upon his prostrate form,
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but he heeds it not. From his pale lips comes the bitter cry,
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O, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass
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from me. Yet even now he adds, nevertheless, not as I will,
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but as THOU wilt. The human heart longs for sympathy and suffering.
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This longing Christ felt to the very depths of his being in the supreme agony
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of his soul. He came to his disciples with a yearning desire to hear
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some words of comfort from those whom he had so often blessed and comforted and
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shielded in sorrow and distress. The one who had always had words of sympathy
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for them was now suffering superhuman agony, and he longed to know that they
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were praying for him, him and for themselves. How dark seemed the malignity
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of sin. Terrible was the temptation to let the human race bear the consequences
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of its own guilt while he stood innocent before God. If he could only
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know that his disciples understood and appreciated this, he would be strengthened. Rising
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with painful effort, he staggered to the place where he had left his companions,
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But he findeth them asleep. Had he found them praying, he would
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have been relieved. Had they been seeking refuge in God that satanic agencies might
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not prevail over them, he would have been comforted by their steadfast faith.
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But they had not heeded the repeated warning watch and pray. At first,
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they had been much troubled to see their master, usually so calm and dignified,
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wrestling with a sorrow that was beyond comprehension. They had prayed as they
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heard the strong cries of the sufferer. They did not intend to forsake their
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Lord. But they seemed paralyzed by a stupor, which they might have shaken
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off if they had continued pleading with God. They did not realize the necessity
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of watchfulness and earnest prayer in order to withstand temptation. Just before he bent
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his footsteps to the garden, Jesus had said to the disciples, all ye
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shall be offended because of me this night. They had given him the strongest
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assurance that they would go with him to prison and to death. And poor
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self sufficient Peter had added, although all shall be offended, yet will not
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I Marked fourteen twenty seven, twenty nine. But the disciples trusted to themselves.
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They did not look to the mighty Helper, as Christ had counseled them
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to do. Thus, when the Savior was most in need of their sympathy
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and prayers, they were found asleep. Even Peter was sleeping, and John,
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the loving disciple, who had leaned upon the breast of Jesus, was
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asleep. Surely the love of John for his master should have kept him awake.
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His earnest prayers should have mingled with those of his loved Savior. In
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the time of his supreme sorrow, The Redeemer had spent entire nights praying for
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his disciples that their faith might not fail. Should Jesus now put to James
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and John the question he had once asked them, are ye able to drink
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of the cup that I shall drink of? And to be baptized with the
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baptism that I am baptized with? They would not have ventured to answer,
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we are able Matthew twenty twenty two. The disciples awakened at the voice of
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Jesus, but they hardly knew him. His face was so changed by anguish.
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Addressing Peter, Jesus said, Simon, sleepest thou couldst not thou watch
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one hour? Watch ye and pray lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit
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truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. The weakness of his disciples
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awaken the sympathy of Jesus. He feared that they would not be able to
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endure the tests which would come upon them in his betrayal and death. He
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did not reprove them, but said, watch ye and pray lest ye enter
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into temptation. Even in his great agony, he was seeking to excuse their
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weakness. The spirit truly is ready, he said, but the flesh is
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weak again. The son of God was seized with superhuman agony, and fainting
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and exhausted, he staggered back to the place of his former struggle. His
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suffering was even greater than before, as the agony of soul came upon him.
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His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the
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ground. The cypress and palm trees were the silent witnesses of his anguish.
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From their leafy branches dropped heavy dew upon his stricken form, as if nature
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wept over its author. Wrestling alone with the powers of darkness. A short
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time before, Jesus had stood like a mighty cedar, withstanding the storm of
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opposition that spent its fury upon him. Stubborn wills and hearts, filled with
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malice and subtlety, had striven in vain to confuse and overpower him. He
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stood forth in divine majesty as the son of God. Now he was like
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a reed, beaten and bent by the angry storm. He had approached the
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consummation of his work, a conqueror, having at each step gained the victory
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over the powers of darkness, as one already glorified. He had claimed oneness
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with God in unfaltering accents. He had poured out his songs of praise.
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He had spoken to his disciples in words of courage and tenderness. Now had
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come the hour of the power of darkness. Now his voice was heard on
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the still evening air, not in tones of triumph, but full of human
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anguish. The words of the Savior were borne to the ears of the drowsy
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disciples. O, my Father, if this cup may not pass away from
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me except I drink it, thy will be done. The first impulse of
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the disciples was to go to him, but he had bidden them. Terry
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there watching under prayer. When Jesus came to them, he found them still
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sleeping. Again. He had felt a longing for companionship, for some words
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from his disciples which would bring relief and break the spell of darkness that well
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nigh overpowered him. But as their eyes were heavy, neither wist they what
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to answer him. His presence aroused them. They saw his face marked with
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the bloody sweat of agony, and they were filled with fear his anguish of
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mind. They could not understand his visage was so marred more than any man,
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and his form more than the sons of men Isaiah fifty two fourteen.
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Turning away, Jesus sought again his retreat and fell prostrate, overcome by the
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horror of a great darkness. The humanity of the Son of God trembled in
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that trying hour. He prayed not now for his disciples, that their faith
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might not fail, but for his own tempted, agonized soul. The awful
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moment had come, that moment which was to decide the destiny of the world,
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The fate of humanity trembled in the balance. Christ might even now refuse
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to drink the cup apportioned to guilty man. It was not yet too late.
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He might wipe the bloody sweat from his brow and leave man to perish
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in his iniquity. He might say, let the transgressor receive the penalty of
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his sin, and I will go back to my father. Will the Son
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of God drink the bitter cup of humiliation and agony? Will the innocent suffer
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the consequences of the curse of sin to save the guilty? The words fall
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tremblingly from the pale lips of Jesus, O, my Father, If this
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cup may not pass away from me except I drink it, Thy will be
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done. Three times has he uttered that prayer? Three times? His humanity
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shrunk from the last crowning sacrifice. But now the history of the human race
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comes up before the world redeemer. He sees that the transgressors of the law,
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if left to themselves, must perish. He sees the helplessness of man,
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He sees the power of sin. The woes and lamentations of a doomed
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world rise before him. He beholds its impending fate, and his decision is
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made. He will save man at any cost to himself. He accepts his
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baptism of blood, that through him perishing millions may gain everlasting life. He
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has left the courts of heaven, where all is purity, happiness, and
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glory, to save the one lost sheep, the one world that has fallen
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by transgression. And he will not turn from his mission. He will become
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the propitiation of a race that has willed to sin. His prayer now breathes
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only submission. If this cup may not pass away from me except I drink
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it, thy will be done. Having made the decision, he fell,
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dying to the ground from which he had partially risen. Where now were his
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disciples to place their hands tenderly beneath the head of their fainting master, and
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bathe that brow marred Indeed more than the sons of men. The Savior trod
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the wine press alone, and of the people there was none with him.
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But God suffered with his son. Angels beheld the Saviour's agony. They saw
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their lord enclosed by legions of Satanic forces, His nature weighed down with a
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shuddering, mysterious dress. There was silence in heaven. No harp was touched.
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Could mortals have viewed the amazement of the angelic hoasts as in silent grief?
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They watched the Father separating his beams of light, love and glory from
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his beloved son. They would better understand how offensive in his sight is sin.
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The world's unfallen and the heavenly angels had watched with intense interest as the
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conflict drew to its close. Satan and his confederacy of evil, the legions
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of apostasy, watched intently this great crisis in the work of redemption. The
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powers of good and evil waited to see what answer would come to Christ's thrice
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repeated prayer. Angels had longed to bring relief to the divine sufferer, but
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this might not be. No way of escape was found for the Son of
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God in this awful crisis, when everything was at stake. When the mysterious
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cup trembled in the hand of the sufferer, the heavens opened. A light
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shone forth amid the storm darkness of the crisis hour, and the mighty Angel,
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who stands in God's presence, occupying the position from which Satan fell,
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came to the side of Christ. The Angel came not to take the cup
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from Christ's hand, but to strengthen him to drink it with the assurance of
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the Father's love. He came to give power to the divine human suppliant.
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He pointed him to the open heavens, telling him of the souls that would
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be saved as a result of his sufferings. He assured him that his Father
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is greater and more powerful than Satan, that his death would result in the
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utter discomfiture of Satan, and that the kingdom of this world would be given
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to the saints of the Most High. He told him that he would see
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of the travail of his soul and be satisfied, for he would see a
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multitude of the human race saved eternally saved. Christ's agony did not cease,
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but his depression and discouragement left him. The storm had in no wise abated,
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but he who was its object, was strengthened to meet its fear.
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He came forth, calm and serene. A heavenly peace rested upon his blood
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stained face. He had borne that which no human being could ever bear,
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for he had tasted the sufferings of death for every man. The sleeping Disciples
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had been suddenly awakened by the light surrounding the Savior. They saw the Angel
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bending over their prostrate master. They saw him lift the Saviour's head upon his
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bosom and point toward heaven. They heard his voice like sweetest music, speaking
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words of comfort and hope. The Disciples recalled the scene upon the Mount of
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Transfiguration. They remembered the glory that in the temple had encircled Jesus, and
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the voice of God that spoke from the cloud. Now that same glory was
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again revealed, and they had no further fear for their master. He was
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under the care of God. A mighty angel had been sent to protect him
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again. The disciples and their weariness yield to the strange stupor that overpowers them
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again. Jesus finds them sleeping. Looking sorrowfully upon them, he says,
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sleep on now and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand,
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and the son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Even
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as he spoke these words, he heard the footsteps of the mob in search
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of him, and said, rise, let us be going. Behold he
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is at hand that doth betray me. No traces of his recent agony were
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visible. As Jesus stepped forth to meet his betrayer. Standing in advance of
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his disciples, he said, whom seek ye, They answered Jesus of Nazareth.
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Jesus replied, I am he. As these words were spoken, the
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angel who had lately ministered to Jesus moved between him and the mob. A
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divine light illuminated the Saviour's face, and a dove like form overshadowed him.
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In the presence of this divine glory, the murderous throng could not stand for
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a moment. They staggered back. Priests, elders, soldiers, and even
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judas fell as dead men. To the ground. The angel withdrew and the
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light faded away. Jesus had opportunity to escape, but he remained calm and
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self possessed as one glorified. He stood in the midst of that hardened band,
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now prostrate and helpless at his feet. The disciples looked on, silent
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with wonder and awe. But quickly the scene changed. The mobs started up.
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The Roman soldiers, the priest, and Judas gathered about Christ. They
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seemed ashamed of their weakness and fearful that he would yet escape again. The
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question was asked by the Redeemer, whom seek ye? They had had evidence
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that he who stood before them was the son of God, but they would
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not be convinced. To the question, whom seek ye again, they answered
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Jesus of Nazareth. The Savior then said, I have told you that I
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am He. If therefore ye seek me, let these go their way,
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Pointing to the disciples. He knew how weak was their faith, and he
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sought to shield them from temptation and trial, for then he was ready to
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sacrifice himself. Judas, a betrayer, did not forget the part he was
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to act. When the mob entered the garden. He had led the way,
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closely followed by the High Priest, to the pursuers of Jesus. He
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had given a sign saying, whomsoever I shall kiss the same as he hold
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him fast Matthew twenty six forty eight. Now he pretends to have no part
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with them. Coming close to Jesus, he takes his hand as a familiar
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friend, with the words hail Master. He kisses him repeatedly and appears to
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weep, as if in sympathy with him in his peril. Jesus said to
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him, friend, wherefore art thou come? His voice trembled with sorrow as
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he added, Judas, betrayest thou the son a man with a kiss.
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This appeal should have aroused the conscience of the betrayer and touched his stubborn heart.
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But honor, fidelity, and human tenderness had forsaken him. He stood
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bold and defiant, showing no disposition to relent. He had given himself up
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to Satan, and he had no power to resist him. Jesus did not
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refuse the traitor's kiss. The mob grew bold as they saw Judas touch the
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person of him who had so recently been glorified before their eyes. They now
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laid hold of Jesus and proceeded to bind those precious hands that had ever been
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employed in doing good. The disciples had thought that their master would not suffer
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himself to be taken, for the same power that had caused the mob to
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fall as dead men could keep them helpless until Jesus and his companions should escape.
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They were disappointed and indignant as they saw the cords brought forward to bind
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the hands of him whom they loved. Peter, in his anger, rashly
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drew his sword and tried to defend his master, but he only cut off
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an ear of the high priest's servant. When Jesus saw what was done,
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he released his hands, though held firmly by the Roman soldiers, and saying,
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suffer ye thus far. He touched the wounded ear, and it was
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instantly made whole. He then said to Peter, put up again thy into
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his place, for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
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Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my father, and he shall
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presently give me more than twelve legions of angels, a legion in place of
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each one of the disciples. Oh why the disciples thought, does he not
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save himself and us? Answering their unspoken thought, he added, but how
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then shall the scriptures be fulfilled? That thus it must be the cup which
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my father hath given me? Shall I not drink it? The official dignity
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of the Jewish leaders had not prevented them from joining in the pursuit of Jesus.
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His arrest was too important a matter to be trusted to subordinates. The
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wily priest and elders had joined the temple police and the rabble in following Judas
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to Cassimone. What a company for those dignitaries to unite with a mob that
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was eager for excitement and armed with all kinds of implements, as if in
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pursuit of a wild beast. Turning to the priest and elders, Christ fixed
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upon them his searching glance. The words he spoke they would never forget as
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long as life should last. They were as the sharp arrows of the Almighty
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with dignity. He said, you come out against me with swords and staves,
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as you would against a thief or a robber. Day by day I
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set teaching in the temple. You had every opportunity of laying hands upon me,
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and you did nothing. The night is better suited to your work.
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This is your hour and the power of darkness. The disciples were terrified as
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they saw Jesus permit himself to be taken and bound. They were offended that
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he should suffer this humiliation to himself and them. They could not understand his
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conduct, and they blamed him for submitting to the mob. In their indignation
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and fear, Peter proposed that they saved themselves. Following the suggestion, they
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all forsook him and fled. But Christ had foretold this desertion. Behold,
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he had said, the hour cometh. Yea is now come that ye shall
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be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone. And
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yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. John sixteen
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thirty two, end of Chapter seventy four.