Matthew 26:36-46 - Homilies By J.a. Macdonald

The agony in the garden.

Jesus, with his apostles, after the eventful moonlight walk from Jerusalem, came to a place at the foot of the Mount of Olives, called "Gethsemane," or the oil presses. Here he entered upon a scene the moral grandeur of which is only exceeded by that of Calvary. The olive in the oil press, like the grape in the wine press, was trodden (see Micah 6:15 ). The sufferings of the Lord in the garden were purely mental; those on the cross were physical also. Meditate upon the trouble of his soul—

I. IN ITS TERRIBLE SEVERITY .

1 . This is expressed in his references to it.

2 . It is expressed in the agony of his prayer.

II. IN ITS VARIOUS SOURCES .

1 . It partly arose from the contradiction of sinners. (See Hebrews 12:3 .)

2 . It partly arose from the weakness of his disciples.

3 . It partly arose from the malignity of Satan.

4 . It principally arose from the anger of God. We may here make the general observation, viz. that the terrible "cup" which Jesus had to drink was given to him by the hand of his Father (cf. Luke 22:39 ; John 18:11 ). The subject will be more particularly considered as we meditate further upon the trouble of the soul of our Lord.

III. IN ITS AWFUL VICARIOUSNESS .

1 . He shares his sorrows with those he loves best.

2 . But there is a limit to their companionship.