The garden of Gethsemane was situated on the western slope of the Mount of Olives. Jesus often went there to pray. At the conclusion of the Lord's Supper, Jesus and the disciples left the upper room and went to this enclosed piece of ground named Gethsemane. No one can approach the account of the garden of Geth-semane without realizing that he is walking on holy ground.

After entering Gethsemane (meaning olive or oil press), Jesus told eight of the eleven disciples with Him to sit and wait, then took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee deeper into the garden. "He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed" (Matthew 26:37). He frankly told Peter, James and John that His soul was "exceeding sorrowful, even unto death" (v. 38). This was doubtless the unspeakable revulsion of His holy soul as He anticipated becoming a sin-offering for us. We who are sinful cannot conceive what it meant to Him, the Sinless One, to be made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).

It is not surprising that He left the three and went yet a little farther into the garden—alone. Thus would He go to the cross alone, bearing the awful judgment of God against our sins. No one else could share His suffering or pray His prayer, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt" (Matthew 26:39).

Was He asking to be excused from going to the cross? Not at all; this was the purpose of His coming into the world (John 12:27,28). We understand this prayer to mean, "If there is any way by which sinners can be saved other than by My going to the cross, reveal that way now." The heavens were silent, because there was no other way. The holy Son of God must bleed that sinners might be freed from sin.

We do not believe that Christ's sufferings in the garden were part of His atoning work. The work of redemption was accomplished during the three hours of darkness on the cross. Gethsemane was in anticipation of Calvary; there the very thought of contact with our sins caused the Lord Jesus the keenest suffering.

His perfect humanity is seen in the agony which accompanied His travail. Luke records the fact that an angel ap-peared to strengthen Him, and that His sweat became like great drops of blood.

Before we leave the garden of Geth-semane, let us pause to once more hear His sobs, to ponder His sorrow, and to thank Him with all our hearts.

—From Believer's Bible Commentary, by William MacDonald. Used by permission.