PREPARING TO DIE As the approached the garden, the disciples had marked the change that came over their Master..-{CSA 32.3}. Near the entrance to the garden, Jeus left all but three of the disciples, bidding them pray for themselves and for Him. With Peter, James, and John, He entered its secluded recesses...But now He desired then to spend the night with Him in prayer...{CSA 32.4} He went a little distance from them- not so far but that they could both see and hear Him - and fell prostrate upon the ground. He felt that by sin He was being separated from His Father.(56) -- {CSA 32.5}. In the wilderness of temptation the destiny of the human race had been at stake. Christ was then conqueror. Now the tempter had come for the last fearful struggle. For this he had been preparing during the three years of Christs ministry. Everything was at stake with him. If he failed here, his hope of mastery was lost; the kingdoms of the world would finally become Christs; he himself would be overthrown and cast out. But if Christ could be overcome, the earth would become satans kingdom, and the human race would be forever in his power. With the issue of the conflict before him, Christs soul was filled with dread of separation from God...{CSA 32.6} The sins of men weighed heavily upon Christ, and the sense of Gods wrath against sin crushing out His life...In His agony He clings to the cold ground, as if to prevent Himself from being drawn farther from God...from His pale lips comes the bitter cry, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet even now He adds. Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt. - {CSA 32.7} The human heart longs for sympathy in suffering. This longing Christ felt to the very depth of His being. In the supreme agony of His soul He came to His disciples with a yearning desire to hear some words of comfort from those whom He had so often blessed and comforted,
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 23:03:23 +0000
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