Agony in the Garden, April 1 2015

Byzantine Icon “Christ in the Garden (Agony)”

Matthew 26:36-46 (NRSV)

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."  He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated.  Then he said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me."  And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want."  Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not stay awake with me one hour?  Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  Again he went away for the second time and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done."  Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.  So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words.  Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand."

Reflection

This image captures how utterly alone Jesus was before he was betrayed and then two days later crucified and buried. Jesus didn’t want to be alone at this time. He brought along Peter, James and John and instructed them to “Stay here and keep watch with me” (vs. 38). But they fell asleep. They could not keep this vigil with Jesus. He was alone. In fact, maybe he needed to be alone.

In his solitude, Jesus prayed to his Father: “if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me” (vs. 39).  Do you blame him? Remember, this cup represents the sins of all humanity for all time. My own sin wears me down, but consider bearing all of humanities sins once and for all? Impossible. It defies logic. Yet until you deeply grasp why Jesus had to go to the cross then you cannot begin to fathom what He accomplished for us by doing it!

I invite you to prayerfully look at the Icon of Christ in the Garden (Agony). Behold how he is on bended knee. (Pause) Examine his outstretched hands. (Pause) Look at his pleading eyes and the sweat glistening on his brow. (Pause) What do you think Jesus was contemplating? (Pause) Reflect on the immense agony of what Jesus had to bear alone. (Pause)

Jesus finished his prayer by saying: “Yet not as I will, but as you will” (vs. 39). Jesus knew what God’s will was for him: to go to the cross for us (which we will reflect about that in a couple days). Today let us remember the magnitude of the agony of Christ in the garden and give thanks for what he willingly did for our sake. 

Tom Livengood