Matthew 26:31-46

This was a garden at the foot of Mount Olivet; here Jesus, as the SUBSTITUTE of His people, receiving the cup of wrath from the hand of His offended Father. It was the wrath of God, all we had deserved; the punishment we must have endured; the Son of God in our nature, in our stead, for our salvation, was punished by Divine Justice.

No human hand touched Him, no human voice spake to Him, when He sweat great drops of blood falling down to the ground. It was the baptism He expected, and...

"Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I never be offended." Matthew 26:33

Why," cries one, "this is no promise of God." Just so, but it was a promise of man, and therefore it came to nothing. Peter thought that he was saying what he should assuredly carry out; but a promise which has no better foundation than a human resolve will fall to the ground. No sooner did temptations...

There are several instructive features in our Saviour's prayer in his hour of trial. It was lonely prayer. He withdrew even from his three favoured disciples. Believer, be much in solitary prayer, especially in times of trial. Family prayer, social prayer, prayer in the Church, will not suffice, these are very precious, but the best beaten spice will smoke in your censer in your private devotions, where no ear hears but God's.

It was humble...

Matthew 26:31-35 Matthew 26:69-75

As Jesus walked with his disciples from the upper room on the way to Gethsemane, He warned them of the peril into which they were about to enter. "This very night you will all fall away on account of Me." Their trial would be very great. He quoted from an Old Testament prophet a word which described the situation as it was about to be: "I will smite the...

Matthew 26:36-56

There was something strangely significant even in the name of the place where Jesus endured His midnight agony. Gethsemane means oil press. It was the place where oil was crushed out of the olives. Olive oil was very valuable. It was used chiefly for food and for lighting. The sufferings of Christ have yielded the highest blessings to the world - food for men's...

John 18:1-13

It was after the great intercessory prayer. Jesus now set out on His

Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation. § The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.Two things I request of You (deprive me not before I die): remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches– feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul....

My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” § And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.The pains of death surrounded me, and the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. § Reproach...