1552 MATTHEW XXVI-GETHSEMANE 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. 30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.1 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. 33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. 36¶Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. 43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. 47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 1Zechariah 13, 7. The word "offended" in verses 31 and 33 means "caused to stumble." The First Temptation BY LUCA GIORDANO, THE NEAPOLITAN ARTIST, DIED 1705. + “And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread."-Luke, 4, 3. NOR the moment there seems to have been no fur F ther communication between Jesus and John. In a single flash of recognition and revelation they met and parted, and Jesus, knowing now that the hour of His mission had come, put calmly behind Him the peaceful life He had lived until that day. "Immediately" He went forth from the Jordan valley into the desert, there to fast and meditate for forty days, that His body might be purged from all dross of earth, all temptation of the flesh. At the end of the forty days, came His strife with the spirit of evil, His victory over the flesh. He was “an hungered," and Satan came to Him with the suggestion that He should think of the comfort of the body, that He should use His godhood to supply Himself with the earthly pleasures and contentments of life. Let Him turn the stones about Him into food, and eat. But Jesus knew that Divine power was not given Him so that He could protect His body, but so that He might rise above the flesh and sacrifice Himself for men. So he answered Satan, "It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." |