"Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane", c 1650, by Giacinto Brandi.
This post is part of a 13 day series, joining other Christian bloggers from around the world, reading together Frederick S. Leahy's classic, "The Cross He Bore".
Here is a link to Mark 14:32-42, for a glimpse into Christ's sorrows at Gethsemane.
Gethsemane is a holy, and sacred place. I never understood that until I was 51 years of age.
Somehow the understanding of what happened there never made it into my affections. Sure, I understood with head knowledge, but true love lives not in the head, but in the heart.
What is it that would make the Christ shudder with terror such that he nearly experiences death?
What happened there, that would make him sweat drops of blood?
Certainly he knew the cross was before him, this was no surprise. What was it that knocked Jesus Christ to his knees in holy terror?
If you can't answer that, then may I implore you to gaze into Gethsemane until you do? If you do not find yourself weak in the knees, then my friend, you do not understand Gethsemane.
Below is a recording of C.J. Mahaney, giving us rare glimpse into Gethsemane, in a message called "The Cup". Please set aside an hour and give it a listen, and then share your thoughts of this recording as well as the text.
