DESTINY’S BIBLE STUDY NOTES AND QUOTES

(The Life and Ministry of Jesus #46)

Gethsemane (See Matthew 26:36-56, Luke 22:39-53, John 18:1-12)

Throughout Jesus’s life on earth He had walked in the light of God’s presence. When in conflict with men who were inspired by the very spirit of Satan, He could say, “He that sent Me is with Me: the Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:29)

But now He seemed to be shut out from the light of God’s sustaining presence. Now He was numbered with the transgressors. The guilt of fallen humanity He must bear. Upon Him who knew no sin must bear the iniquity of us all. So dreadful does sin appear to Him, so great is the weight of guilt which He must bear, that He is tempted to fear it will shut Him out forever from His Father’s love.

Feeling how terrible is the wrath of God against transgression, He exclaims, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.”

As they approached the garden, the disciples had marked the change that came over their Master. Never before had they seen Him so utterly sad and silent. As He proceeded, this strange sadness deepened, yet they dared not question Him as to the cause.

Jesus felt that by He was being separated from His Father. The gulf was so broad, so black, so deep, that His spirit shuddered before it. This agony He must not exert His divine power to escape. As man, He must suffer the consequences of man’s sin. As man He must endure the wrath of God against transgression.

Hitherto Jesus had been an intercessor for others; now He longed to have an intercessor for Himself.

With the issues of the conflict before Him, Christ’s soul was filled with dread of separation from God. Satan told Him that if He became the surety for a sinful world, the separation would be eternal. He would be identified with Satan’s kingdom, and would nevermore be one with God. And what was to be gained by this sacrifice? How hopeless appeared the guilt and ingratitude of humanity!

The sins of humanity weighed heavily upon Christ, and the sense of God’s wrath against sin was crushing out His life.

The human heart longs for sympathy in suffering. This longing Jesus felt to the very depths of His being.

How dark seemed the malignity of sin! Terrible was the temptation to let the human race bear the consequences of its own guilt, while Jesus stood innocent before God. If He could only know that His disciples understood and appreciated this, He would be encouraged.

The sleeping disciples: Surely, the love of John for His Master should have kept him awake, and praying. The redeemer had spent entire nights praying for His disciples , that their faith might not fail.

Should Jesus now put to James and John the question He had once asked them, “Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They would not have ventured to answer, “We are able.” (Matthew 20:22)

The disciples awakened at the voice of Jesus, but they hardly knew Him. His face was so changed by anguish. Jesus did not reprove them, but said, “Watch ye and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” Even in His great agony, He was seeking to excuse their weakness. “The spirit truly is ready,” He said, “but the flesh is weak.”

The disciples saw Christ’s face marked with the bloody sweat of agony, and they were filled with fear. His anguish of mind they could not understand. “His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.” (Isaiah 52:14)

The awful moment had come—that moment which was to decide the destiny of the world. The fate of humanity trembled in the balance. Christ might even now refuse to drink the cup apportioned to guilty man. He sees the transgressors of the law, if left to themselves, must perish. He sees the helplessness of humanity. He sees the power of sin over our fallen natures.

Having made the decision, Jesus fell as if dying to the ground. Where now were His disciples, to place their hands tenderly beneath the head of their fainting Master, and bathe that brow, marred indeed more than the sons of men? The Savior trod the wine press alone, and of the people, there was none with Him. (See Isaiah 63:3)

But God suffered with His Son. Angels beheld the Savior’s agony. They saw their Lord enclosed by legions of satanic forces. His human nature weighed down with a shuddering, mysterious dread. Could mortals have viewed the amazement of the angelic host as in silent grief they watched the Father separating His beams of light, love, and glory from His beloved Son, they would better understand how offensive in His sight is sin.

The mighty angel who stands in God’s presence, occupying the position from which Satan fell, came to the side of Christ. The angel didn’t come to take the cup from Christ’s hand, but to strengthen Him to drink it, with the assurance of the Father’s love. Although Christ’s agony did not cease, His depression and discouragement left Him.

Jesus did not refuse the traitor’s kiss!

Jesus stepped forth to meet His betrayer. Standing in advance of His disciples, He said, “Who do you seek?” As these words were spoken, the angel who had just ministered to Jesus stepped between Him and the mob. They staggered back. Priests, elders, soldiers, and even Judas fell as dead men to the ground. Yet this miraculous event didn’t stop them! Even more amazing, Jesus submitted rather than obliterate them!

The disciples were terrified as they saw Jesus permit Himself to be taken and bound. They were offended that He should suffer this humiliation to Himself and them.

Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas (See Matthew 26:57-75, 27:1, Mark 14:53-72, 15:1, Luke 22:54-71, John 18: 13:27)

The Savior contrasted His own manner of work with the methods of His accusers. For months they had hunted Him, striving to entrap Him and bring Him before a secret tribunal, where they might obtain by perjury what was impossible to gain by fair means.

Annas was silenced by the reply of Jesus. Fearing that Christ would say something regarding His course of action that he would prefer to keep covered up, he said nothing more at that time. One of his officers, filled with wrath as he saw Annas silenced, struck Jesus on the face, saying, “Do you answer the high priest so?”

Christ calmly replied, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why do you hit me?” Jesus spoke no words of retaliation. His calm answer came from a heart sinless, patient, and gentle, that would not be provoked.

To be surrounded by human beings under the control of Satan was revolting to Him. And He knew in a moment, by the flashing forth of His divine power, He could lay His cruel tormentors in the dust. This made the trial all the harder to bear.

His love for His Father, and His pledge, made from the foundation of the world, to become the Sin Bearer, led Him to endure uncomplainingly the course treatment of those He came to save.

Caiaphas had regarded Jesus as a rival. When the council had assembled in the judgement hall, Caiaphas took his seat as presiding officer. On either side were the judges, and those specially interested in the trial. The Roman soldiers were stationed on the platform below the throne. At the foot of the throne stood Jesus. Upon Him the gaze of the whole multitude was fixed. The excitement was intense. Of all the throng Jesus alone was calm and serene. The very atmosphere surrounding Him seemed pervaded by a holy influence.

The people compared the excited and malignant deportment of Annas and Caiaphas with the calm, majestic bearing of Jesus. Even in the minds of that hardened multitude arose the question, is this man of godlike presence to be condemned as a criminal?

Caiaphas, raising his right hand toward heaven, addressed Jesus in the form of a solemn oath: “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” To this appeal Christ could not remain silent. There was a time to be silent, and a time to speak.

The words of Christ startled the high priest, and he tore his garments. A high priest was not to rend his garments. By Levitical law this was prohibited under sentence of death. Finite man might rend his own heart by showing a contrite and humble spirit. This God would discern. But no rent must be made in the priestly robes, for this would mar the representation of heavenly things. This act was looked upon as having severed himself from God.

By rending his garments, Caiaphas himself was committing blasphemy. Yet standing under the condemnation of God, he pronounced sentence upon Christ as a blasphemer.

Christ’s very nobility and godlike bearing goaded them to madness. His meekness, His innocence, His majestic patience, filled them with hatred born of Satan. Mercy and justice were trampled upon. Never was criminal treated so inhuman a manner as was the Son of God.

“Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.” (Mark 14:30) While the degrading oaths were fresh upon Peter’s lips, and the shrill crowing of the cock was still ringing in his ears, the Savior turned from the frowning judges, and looked full upon His poor disciple, and their eyes met. In that gentle countenance he read deep pity and sorrow, but there was no anger there.

The sight of that pale, suffering face, and that look of compassion and forgiveness pierced Peter’s heart like an arrow. Peter had just declared that he didn’t know Jesus, but he now realized with bitter grief how well his Lord knew him, and how accurately he had read his heart, the falseness of which was unknown even to himself.

Had those hours in the garden been spent in watching and prayer, Peter would not have been left to depend upon his own feeble strength. He would not have denied his Lord.

When the condemnation of Jesus was pronounced by the judges, a satanic fury took possession of the people. The roar of voices was like that of wild beasts.

The angels of God faithfully recorded every insulting look, word, and act against their beloved Commander. One day the base men who scorned and spat upon the calm, pale face of Christ will look upon it in its glory, shinning brighter than the sun.