The Garden

"Come, the time has arrived, our meal complete, this remembrance forever engrained in your hearts; this remembrance of me with you, always. The time is soon, the hour almost here, come, pray with me for this our final night together in the flesh."

Perplexed and yet anxious about His words, the Apostles, one by one, rise from their seats and depart the upper room. Darkness has fallen into the night and the air cool against the skin.  The group travels in silence, each man caught up in his own thoughts.  Finally, they reached their destination, the Garden of Gethsemane.  The men stop and look to their rabbi for instruction, "Wait here, will you, keep watch for me.  The hour approaches quickly and my mind wanders so.  Stay  here, I pray you, and converse with my Heavenly Father.  His strength will do us all well.  Stay here and keep watch for me."

He looked upon the apostles with compassionate, loving and now worried eyes.  They could feel his emotions as if they were their own.  Unanimously, they agreed to keep watch for him and spend their time in prayer.  Jesus took with Him, Peter, James and John and went further into the garden.  They stopped among a small thickets of bushes, "This is where you will wait, my friends.  You, too, I ask to pray with me.  The days to come will be difficult; only help from the Father will make the days bearable.  Pray with me, I bring the three of you here that you may pray with me, be with me in this such a trying time."

The three men looked at each other, "Trying time?  They were in a secluded garden at night time.  Yes, there were rumors of threats made by the Sanhedrin, but it was night time and they only met during the day."  There was nothing for them or their master to worry about but yet they played to His emotions and assured Him that they would pray with him. 

The master thanked them for their continued support, embraced each man and tears began to fall from His face.  The men held hands and He began to pray.  "Father, you have placed me here to live Your will, to become the love You intend for all people.  I have tried my best, Father.  I have walked theses streets, I have touched the lame and embraced the deaf.  Their faith has cured their ailments, they have been witnesses of Your unconditional love.  Their lives forever changed, they have, for a brief moment, discovered peace.  Yet this is all about to change for many, as their lives again soon filled with hatred."  The men just stood, listening to the words of their Master, unsure of what to do.  They could feel the emotion; the realness of the situation began to sink in and Peter spoke,

"Father, you have lead us alone many paths and today these paths intersect.  We have have become a brotherhood invested in faith and guided by love.  This man who stands before us, He has shown us they way to You.  He has guided our thoughts and opened our hearts, that we may better serve You.  No longer motivate by fear, we walk these streets proclaiming Your word for in truth there is life.  We have been given new life in You and all because of this man before us, this man we call Rabbi.  He worries so, I can feel His pain, His angst.  Father, I do not understand He anxiety but please take this feeling from Him that His heart may be settled.  I look into His eyes and all I see is sadness.  Father, for a man who knows You, for a man who knows and accepts Your love, this sadness overtakes Him.  Release a him from this sadness.  I do not know what is happening but I pray that His soul be settled in your love."

All of the men now had tears in their eyes.  The cool air whips across their cheeks and again, the Master prays aloud, "My sadness is real, I am weighed down with thoughts that only haunt, thoughts that only distract me from my purpose.  These thoughts act like a millstone around my neck and I feel like I am drowning in the depths of the sea.  My friends, I need some time alone with my Father.  Stay here and continue to pray with one another."  He left Peter, James and John just on the other side of the thicket.  Here, He fell to His knees, sobbing uncontrollably.  The men strained to listen for a while but eventually gave into the temptation of sleep. 

"Father, I know this is Your will, that my wants do no overshadow the needs of Your people.  This burden heavy, Father.  I feel the weight of each sin upon my shoulders.  This burden feels too much for me to handle.  I have taken on human form, the weight of this calling seems almost impossible to bear, yet I do not question my purpose.  I just feel like I am being strangled, the culprit, sin.  I know I am to save people from their own selves, from the sins they carry; but is there no other way?  My thoughts cloud my judgment, I feel myself pulling away from my heart, from You and Your love, help me, Father, to find Your voice within me, help me to recognize the persuasive thoughts of the mind for what they are, conniving.  This humanity stands in the way of what I know for I know You.  I know the hour approaches but, I beg of You, is there any other way?"  He spends so time just listening for an answer from the Father.  He remains quiet and then He hears the voice of His heart...

"Son, there is no other way.  Flawed, most humans need to see to believe; they readily believe others instead of believing their heart.  The power of persuasion is their kryptonite and they will blindly follow the loudest voice; the greatest sign.  You, my son, have walked this earth among them, you have become accustom to their ways of thinking, you have lived their lives of doubt and anxiety, though you know my touch, you know my love.  This is what sets you apart, my son, you are of me and with me forever.  You know no other means will penetrate this human stubbornness, nothing else will take away their sin for their salvation comes at a price, your life, my son.  Soon this will be over and you will be back with me.  Do not let the flaws of humanity cloud your knowledge, you are love my son, my love, let this love penetrate your soul."

Jesus looked up and saw only darkness and heard only silence so he rose and walked to the place where he had left Peter, James and John.  The men had fallen asleep, "Can you not spend just one night with me in prayer?  It this too much to ask?  My time is coming to an end and you sleep.  Friends, do you not understand the severity of the situation?  Stay awake and pray that the heaviness of this night not fall upon your spirit."  He again retreated and threw himself prostrate upon the ground.

"Father, this night is difficult.  I ask the men to pray with me and they fall asleep.  I thought I'd chosen men who were strong, men who could withstand the test of that which crushes the human spirit.  Have I chosen wrong?  Why do they sleep when they could pray. They could be in your presence and embrace Your spirit?  Father, I am growing ever tired..."

"My son, you have not chosen wrong, rather you have chosen wisely.  Think of your many interactions with these men, they are strong like none other.  They have learned, they have lived their faith, a faith while within them always, did not surface until You came into their lives and taught them how to tap into their faith, into me.  They are still learning, my son.  Never doubt their allegiance to their faith.  Faithful men they are though remember, their humanity often stands in their way acting as an electrified wall preventing their entrance to unconditional, incessant love.  They, too, will benefit from this sign, this will be their motivation, it will become their strength.  They only know, minimally, what they have in you.  In your death they will learn, they will come to understand what they had in their midst and they will rise to faith.  They will be ideal witnesses of faith so fear not of your choices, my son, these men are men of faith and actions of love."

"Father, you know just how to settle my soul.  I listen to your voice and my body becomes light, as if I am floating.  I empty my mind that I may only hear your voice and listen to your words for my words torment, they are heavy, they tax my soul and only bring me worry, anxiety and sadness.  Though I carry nothing in my hands, I feel my knees buckle under the weight.  Salvation is a hefty price, a price I am willing to pay that others may have this connection that we have, that others may continuously feel your presence in their lives, that others leave worry by the wayside and put their complete trust in you.  Father, I do not fear the physical pain of the crucifixion which is about to occur, it is the pain of the sins I fear myself not strong enough to carry."

"Son, you are string and I am ever with you.  Feel my presence, feel my love, this will soon  all be over.  Rise, gather the men, for the time has come."

Jesus rose to his feet, wiped aways His tears and walked toward the three apostles who had, once again, fallen asleep.  

"Men, get up, the time has come."

They sheepishly arose and walked with Him to the other nine apostles who also had fallen asleep.  When all the men were on their feet, the group walked toward the entrance of the garden where they were met by Judas Iscariot and a group of men from the Sanhedrin.  Tensions were high as the men questioned the presence of Judas Iscariot. Judas walked of to Jesus and kissed His cheek.  Peter, in his fury, drew his sword prepared to protect his friend.  Judas quickly hid in the shadows and a guard grabbed Jesus' arm.   In his anger, Peter chopped off the ear of the soldiers.  Jesus simply picked up the ear and placed it back on the man, healing him on site.  The nasi publicly thanked Judas and tossed him a bag of silver.  Jesus was bound and led from the group.  The men just stood in bewilderment.

What do we have in our midst that we take for granted; that we cherish but never admit; that we need but will not claim dependence?  Our faith will carry us, the cross our sign, our source of strength.  Let this strength be out guide, be our life as we learn to live our faith, live the love of God ever present in our lives.