LESSON XXXV.
THE GARDEN.
Matthew, xxvi. 30-57. John, xviii. 1-12.
When Jesus was come to the garden, he told all his disciples to stop in one place till he came back, except three that he took with him.
Who were they?
Peter, James, and John. He took them further on in the garden, and then said to them, I feel very sad indeed. I am going to pray. Do you stay here. Do not go to sleep, but pray while I am praying.
Then Jesus went a little way off by himself, and fell upon the ground, and began to pray to his Father to help him. He ended his prayer by saying, O Father, do thou what thou wilt, not what I will.
He prayed very earnestly, and he felt so unhappy that the blood came out of his skin, and fell on the ground. Then he got up and went back to Peter, and James, and John, but he found them asleep. He waked them, and told them to pray.
Then he went back and prayed again to his Father, to help him in his great sorrow; then he came back to his disciples, but they had fallen asleep again.
Then Jesus prayed again, and his Father sent an angel from heaven to comfort him. I do not know what the angel said, but I know the angel loved him, and could speak sweet words to him, and tell him how his Father loved him. The angel did not stay long; he soon went back to God.
Then Jesus came again to his disciples, and found them still asleep. But Jesus waked them and told them to get up; for Judas is near.
While Jesus was saying this, a great many people were seen walking in the garden. These were the servants of the proud men in Jerusalem. They had swords, and sticks, and lanterns in their hands. And Judas went before them to show them where Jesus was. But Judas came up slily to Jesus, and gave him a kiss, pretending to love him.
Jesus knew what Judas was doing, and he said, Friend, why do you come here? and why do you kiss me?
Jesus did not run away, but he went up to the wicked men, and said, Whom are you looking for?
They said, For Jesus.
He said, I am he.
When he said that, God made all the wicked people fall upon their backs upon the ground. Then Jesus could have run away; but he chose to stay, that he might die for sinners.
The wicked people soon got up; God let them get up; but Jesus said to them, If you want to have me, you must let my disciples go away.
It was kind of Jesus to think of them, and they were frightened and glad to get away; they did not wish to stay to die with Jesus.
But Peter took a sword and cut off one of the wicked men’s ears. Peter wished to fight; but Jesus said, Put up your sword. If I were to pray now to my Father, he would send thousands of angels to help me. Then Jesus touched the man’s ear, and made it well.
Why did not Jesus pray to God to send the angels?
Because he chose to die to save us. Had the angels come, and taken Jesus back to heaven, then we should all have gone to hell.
Peter and all the rest of the disciples ran away, and left Jesus quite alone with the wicked men. They took ropes, and tied his hands and feet, and they led him away into Jerusalem; and he went along meekly as a lamb.