Drawing Out The Word

19. Agony at Gethsemane

Scripture:

Psalm 3; Luke 22:39-46

Hymn:

"Neath the Old Olive Trees"

Meditation: Psalm 3 is a reflective prayer of another king who knelt on the Mount of Olives hundreds of years before Christ--King David as he ran from his son's death threat. Christ and David both faced immanent death. Both cried out to their Father in Heaven. The word "Gethsemane" means olive press. When Jesus was pressed until there was nothing left to squeeze, what oozed out of Christ was not just sweat drops of blood, but submission--humble, obedient submission. How appropriate a place for such an agonizing experience. Might Christ have prayed, as David, the third Psalm. It is The Son of God was despised and rejected by men. "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many." (Hebrews 9:28)  By Seeking God's Ways (Psalm 3:3-4) The comforting and all-important thought of our Savior was God's plan of salvation to redeem his beloved people. (Romans 5:8)  By Pressing on in Victory (Psalm 3:5-8) The victory was won as Christ submitted to the will of the Father and "became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philip. 2:8) here that we too learn how to submit to God…  By Rejecting Worldly Counsel (Psalm 3:1-2)

And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.