The Garden of Gethsemane was a place of great importance to Jesus, referred to in all four Gospels as a place where Christ retreated into deep prayer and a time of agony before His arrest and crucifixion, and near where He ascended to heaven in the Book of Acts.
Because of its reference to an oil press on a mountain ridge covered in olive trees, it is assumed to be a small garden, plot of ground or enclosure tucked away and relatively private.
It also likely contained an oil press, a mechanical device of sorts used to crush olives and then extract their oil for cooking and other uses. Gethsemane is mentioned specifically by name only twice in the Bible, though references to it are peppered throughout the New Testament as a place Jesus traveled to and through frequently. There He wrestled in great sorrow with the torture and humiliation He knew was before Him.
He walked a bit farther from them, sank to His knees, and cried out to His Father, God. Take this cup from me. This was no casual prayer — Jesus was distraught. He prayed throughout the night, periodically returning to His disciples to find them sleeping.
When He returned to wake His friends the third time, however, Jesus appeared resolute, ready to face the path His Father had laid before Him. The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Let us go! Here comes My betrayer! But after His all-night agony of sorrow and prayer, Jesus knew what needed to happen. It is also believed to be the spot where Jesus was betrayed and arrested, and possibly the location of His secret meeting with Nicodemus as recorded in the Gospel of john.
Wall decorations in the grotto describe the prayer of Jesus and the betrayal kiss of Judas, while the bronze figures beneath the altar portray the sleeping disciples.
It was in the 4th Century AD that the grotto first became a formal chapel, and nearly 40 graves, mainly from the 5th to 8th Centuries AD, have been discovered in the area. The Church is actually constructed around a slab of rock where Jesus is believed to have been praying on that holy night so long ago. Prominent and easily recognized by its stunning gold and colorful tympanum mosaic decorations above its main entrance, this beautiful art depicts Jesus and His followers. A much older Byzantine church building that dates back to the 4th Century AD has been incorporated into the modern-day structure, and once inside the impressive indoor space, visitors can see a portion of the original Byzantine mosaic floor and the famous rock where Jesus is believed to have prayed.
And He said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch. And going a little farther, He fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
And he said, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt.
Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.
And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. And He came the third time, and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come; the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.
Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me? Sitting at the foot of the Mount of Olives , within the grounds of the Church of all Nations, the tranquil garden has magnificent ancient olive trees that are dated back to approximately 2, years ago, still producing olives today. There is debate about the exact age of the olive trees and to whether this was the properly named spot where Jesus prayed.
Without a doubt, the amazing trees are offshoots from the same ones that Jesus prayed next to. Across the lane is a less-frequented grove, where arrangements can be made to spend a more private time of worship and contemplation.
Could you not watch one hour? More significantly, I immediately understood why we use olive oil in priesthood blessings: we have faith in the atoning blood of Jesus to heal us spiritually and physically.
The symbol of His atoning blood is placed on our bodies as a real, present, physical reminder and invitation to trust Him and to trust His saving blood. For more on olive tree horticulture and the making of olive oil anciently, together with fabulous visual images, see this website by BYU-Idaho Religion Professor Bruce Satterfield: Olive Tree Horticulture. Search Search Search. Book Club. Feature Stories. From the Church. Latter-day Saint Life. Twitter Pinterest Email Print. Why Suffer in a Garden?
Why Suffer in Gethsemane?
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