The Urantia Book
PAPER 182
IN GETHSEMANE
182:0.1 IT WAS about ten o'clock this Thursday
night when Jesus led the eleven apostles from the home of Elijah
and Mary Mark on their way back to the Gethsemane camp. Ever since
that day in the hills, John Mark had made it his business to keep
a watchful eye on Jesus. John, being in need of sleep, had
obtained several hours of rest while the Master had been with his
apostles in the upper room, but on hearing them coming downstairs,
he arose and, quickly throwing a linen coat about himself,
followed them through the city, over the brook Kidron, and on to
their private encampment adjacent to Gethsemane Park. And John
Mark remained so near the Master throughout this night and the
next day that he witnessed everything and overheard much of what
the Master said from this time on to the hour of the crucifixion.
182:0.2 As Jesus and the eleven made their way
back to camp, the apostles began to wonder about the meaning of
Judas's prolonged absence, and they spoke to one another
concerning the Master's prediction that one of them would betray
him, and for the first time they suspected that all was not well
with Judas Iscariot. But they did not engage in open comment about
Judas until they reached the camp and observed that he was not
there, waiting to receive them. When they all besieged Andrew to
know what had become of Judas, their chief remarked only, "I do
not know where Judas is, but I fear he has deserted us."
1. THE LAST GROUP PRAYER
182:1.1 A few moments after arriving at camp,
Jesus said to them: "My friends and brethren, my time with you is
now very short, and I desire that we draw apart by ourselves while
we pray to our Father in heaven for strength to sustain us in this
hour and henceforth in all the work we must do in his name."
182:1.2 When Jesus had thus spoken, he led the
way a short distance up on Olivet, and in full view of Jerusalem
he bade them kneel on a large flat rock in a circle about him as
they had done on the day of their ordination; and then, as he
stood there in the midst of them glorified in the mellow
moonlight, he lifted up his eyes toward heaven and prayed:
182:1.3 "Father, my hour has come; now glorify
your Son that the Son may glorify you. I know that you have given
me full authority over all living creatures in my realm, and I
will give eternal life to all who will become faith sons of God.
And this is eternal life, that my creatures should know you as the
only true God and Father of all, and that they should believe in
him whom you sent into the world. Father, I have exalted you on
earth and have accomplished the work which you gave me to do. I
have almost finished my bestowal upon the children of our own
creation; there remains only for me to lay down my life in the
flesh. And now, O my Father, glorify me with the glory which I had
with you before this world was and receive me once more at your
right hand.
182:1.4 "I have manifested you to the men whom
you chose from the world and gave to me. They are yours -- as all
life is in your hands -- you gave them to me, and I have lived
among them, teaching them the way of life, and they have believed.
These men are learning that all I have comes from you, and that
the life I live in the flesh is to make known my Father to the
worlds. The truth which you have given to me I have revealed to
them. These, my friends and ambassadors, have sincerely willed to
receive your word. I have told them that I came forth from you,
that you sent me into this world, and that I am about to return to
you. Father, I do pray for these chosen men. And I pray for them
not as I would pray for the world, but as for those whom I have
chosen out of the world to represent me to the world after I have
returned to your work, even as I have represented you in this
world during my sojourn in the flesh. These men are mine; you gave
them to me; but all things which are mine are ever yours, and all
that which was yours you have now caused to be mine. You have been
exalted in me, and I now pray that I may be honored in these men.
I can no longer be in this world; I am about to return to the work
you have given me to do. I must leave these men behind to
represent us and our kingdom among men. Father, keep these men
faithful as I prepare to yield up my life in the flesh. Help
these, my friends, to be one in spirit, even as we are one. As
long as I could be with them, I could watch over them and guide
them, but now am I about to go away. Be near them, Father, until
we can send the new teacher to comfort and strengthen them.
182:1.5 "You gave me twelve men, and I have kept
them all save one, the son of revenge, who would not have further
fellowship with us. These men are weak and frail, but I know we
can trust them; I have proved them; they love me, even as they
reverence you. While they must suffer much for my sake, I desire
that they should also be filled with the joy of the assurance of
sonship in the heavenly kingdom. I have given these men your word
and have taught them the truth. The world may hate them, even as
it has hated me, but I do not ask that you take them out of the
world, only that you keep them from the evil in the world.
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. And as you sent me
into this world, even so am I about to send these men into the
world. For their sakes I have lived among men and have consecrated
my life to your service that I might inspire them to be purified
through the truth I have taught them and the love I have revealed
to them. I well know, my Father, that there is no need for me to
ask you to watch over these brethren after I have gone; I know you
love them even as I, but I do this that they may the better
realize the Father loves mortal men even as does the Son.
182:1.6 "And now, my Father, I would pray not
only for these eleven men but also for all others who now believe,
or who may hereafter believe the gospel of the kingdom through the
word of their future ministry. I want them all to be one, even as
you and I are one. You are in me and I am in you, and I desire
that these believers likewise be in us; that both of our spirits
indwell them. If my children are one as we are one, and if they
love one another as I have loved them, all men will then believe
that I came forth from you and be willing to receive the
revelation of truth and glory which I have made. The glory which
you gave me I have revealed to these believers. As you have lived
with me in spirit, so have I lived with them in the flesh. As you
have been one with me, so have I been one with them, and so will
the new teacher ever be one with them and in them. And all this
have I done that my brethren in the flesh may know that the Father
loves them even as does the Son, and that you love them even as
you love me. Father, work with me to save these believers that
they may presently come to be with me in glory and then go on to
join you in the Paradise embrace. Those who serve with me in
humiliation, I would have with me in glory so that they may see
all you have given into my hands as the eternal harvest of the
seed sowing of time in the likeness of mortal flesh. I long to
show my earthly brethren the glory I had with you before the
founding of this world. This world knows very little of you,
righteous Father, but I know you, and I have made you known to
these believers, and they will make known your name to other
generations. And now I promise them that you will be with them in
the world even as you have been with me -- even so."
182:1.7 The eleven remained kneeling in this
circle about Jesus for several minutes before they arose and in
silence made their way back to the near-by camp.
182:1.8 Jesus prayed for unity among his
followers, but he did not desire uniformity. Sin creates a dead
level of evil inertia, but righteousness nourishes the creative
spirit of individual experience in the living realities of eternal
truth and in the progressive communion of the divine spirits of
the Father and the Son. In the spiritual fellowship of the
believer-son with the divine Father there can never be doctrinal
finality and sectarian superiority of group consciousness.
182:1.9 The Master, during the course
of this
final prayer with his apostles, alluded to the fact that he had
manifested the Father's name to the world. And that is
truly what he did by the revelation of God through his perfected
life in the flesh. The Father in heaven had sought to reveal
himself to Moses, but he could proceed no further than to cause it
to be said, "I AM." And when pressed for further revelation of
himself, it was only disclosed, "I AM that I AM." But when Jesus
had finished his earth life, this name of the Father had been so
revealed that the Master, who was the Father incarnate, could
truly say:
182:1.10 I am the bread of life.
I am the living water.
I am the light of the world.
I am the desire of all ages.
I am the open door to eternal
salvation.
I am the reality of endless life.
I am the good shepherd.
I am the pathway of infinite
perfection.
I am the resurrection and the life.
I am the secret of eternal survival.
I am the way, the truth, and the life.
I am the infinite Father of my finite
children.
I am the true vine; you are the
branches.
I am the hope of all who know the
living truth.
I am the living bridge from one world
to another.
I am the living link between time and
eternity.
182:1.11 Thus did Jesus enlarge the living
revelation of the name of God to all generations. As divine love
reveals the nature of God, eternal truth discloses his name in
ever-enlarging proportions.
2. LAST HOUR BEFORE THE BETRAYAL
182:2.1 The apostles were greatly shocked when
they returned to their camp and found Judas absent. While the
eleven were engaged in a heated discussion of their traitorous
fellow apostle, David Zebedee and John Mark took Jesus to one side
and revealed that they had kept Judas under observation for
several days, and that they knew he intended to betray him into
the hands of his enemies. Jesus listened to them but only said:
"My friends, nothing can happen to the Son of Man unless the
Father in heaven so wills. Let not your hearts be troubled; all
things will work together for the glory of God and the salvation
of men."
182:2.2 The cheerful attitude of Jesus was
waning. As the hour passed, he grew more and more serious, even
sorrowful. The apostles, being much agitated, were loath to return
to their tents even when requested to do so by the Master himself.
Returning from his talk with David and John, he addressed his last
words to all eleven, saying: "My friends, go to your rest. Prepare
yourselves for the work of tomorrow. Remember, we should all
submit ourselves to the will of the Father in heaven. My peace I
leave with you." And having thus spoken, he motioned them to their
tents, but as they went, he called to Peter, James, and John,
saying, "I desire that you remain with me for a little while."
182:2.3 The apostles fell asleep only because
they were literally exhausted; they had been running short on
sleep ever since their arrival in Jerusalem. Before they went to
their separate sleeping quarters, Simon Zelotes led them all over
to his tent, where were stored the swords and other arms, and
supplied each of them with this fighting equipment. All of them
received these arms and girded themselves therewith except
Nathaniel. Nathaniel, in refusing to arm himself, said: "My
brethren, the Master has repeatedly told us that his kingdom is
not of this world, and that his disciples should not fight with
the sword to bring about its establishment. I believe this; I do
not think the Master needs to have us employ the sword in his
defense. We have all seen his mighty power and know that he could
defend himself against his enemies if he so desired. If he will
not resist his enemies, it must be that such a course represents
his attempt to fulfill his Father's will. I will pray, but I will
not wield the sword." When Andrew heard Nathaniel's speech, he
handed his sword back to Simon Zelotes. And so nine of them were
armed as they separated for the night.
182:2.4 Resentment of Judas's being a traitor
for the moment eclipsed everything else in the apostles' minds.
The Master's comment in reference to Judas, spoken in the course
of the last prayer, opened their eyes to the fact that he had
forsaken them.
182:2.5 After the eight apostles had finally
gone to their tents, and while Peter, James, and John were
standing by to receive the Master's orders, Jesus called to David
Zebedee, "Send to me your most fleet and trustworthy messenger."
When David brought to the Master one Jacob, once a runner on the
overnight messenger service between Jerusalem and Bethsaida,
Jesus, addressing him, said: "In all haste, go to Abner at
Philadelphia and say: `The Master sends greetings of peace to you
and says that the hour has come when he will be delivered into the
hands of his enemies, who will put him to death, but that he will
rise from the dead and appear to you shortly, before he goes to
the Father, and that he will then give you guidance to the time
when the new teacher shall come to live in your hearts.'" And when
Jacob had rehearsed this message to the Master's satisfaction,
Jesus sent him on his way, saying: "Fear not what any man may do
to you, Jacob, for this night an unseen messenger will run by your
side."
182:2.6 Then Jesus turned to the chief of the
visiting Greeks who were encamped with them, and said: "My
brother, be not disturbed by what is about to take place since I
have already forewarned you. The Son of Man will be put to death
at the instigation of his enemies, the chief priests and the
rulers of the Jews, but I will rise to be with you a short time
before I go to the Father. And when you have seen all this come to
pass, glorify God and strengthen your brethren."
182:2.7 In ordinary circumstances the apostles
would have bidden the Master a personal good night, but this
evening they were so preoccupied with the sudden realization of
Judas's desertion and so overcome by the unusual nature of the
Master's farewell prayer that they listened to his good-bye
salutation and went away in silence.
182:2.8 Jesus did say this to Andrew as he left
his side that night: "Andrew, do what you can to keep your
brethren together until I come again to you after I have drunk
this cup. Strengthen your brethren, seeing that I have already
told you all. Peace be with you."
182:2.9 None of the apostles expected anything
out of the ordinary to happen that night since it was already so
late. They sought sleep that they might rise up early in the
morning and be prepared for the worst. They thought that the chief
priests would seek to apprehend their Master early in the morning
as no secular work was ever done after noon on the preparation day
for the Passover. Only David Zebedee and John Mark understood that
the enemies of Jesus were coming with Judas that very night.
182:2.10 David had arranged to stand guard that
night on the upper trail which led to the Bethany-Jerusalem road,
while John Mark was to watch along the road coming up by the
Kidron to Gethsemane. Before David went to his self-imposed task
of outpost duty, he bade farewell to Jesus, saying: "Master, I
have had great joy in my service with you. My brothers are your
apostles, but I have delighted to do the lesser things as they
should be done, and I shall miss you with all my heart when you
are gone." And then said Jesus to David: "David, my son, others
have done that which they were directed to do, but this service
have you done of your own heart, and I have not been unmindful of
your devotion. You, too, shall some day serve with me in the
eternal kingdom."
182:2.11 And then, as he prepared to go on watch
by the upper trail, David said to Jesus: "You know, Master, I sent
for your family, and I have word by a messenger that they are
tonight in Jericho. They will be here early tomorrow forenoon
since it would be dangerous for them to come up the bloody way by
night." And Jesus, looking down upon David, only said: "Let it be
so, David."
182:2.12 When David had gone up Olivet, John
Mark took up his vigil near the road which ran by the brook down
to Jerusalem. And John would have remained at this post but for
his great desire to be near Jesus and to know what was going on.
Shortly after David left him, and when John Mark observed Jesus
withdraw, with Peter, James, and John, into a near-by ravine, he
was so overcome with combined devotion and curiosity that he
forsook his sentinel post and followed after them, hiding himself
in the bushes, from which place he saw and overheard all that
transpired during those last moments in the garden and just before
Judas and the armed guards appeared to arrest Jesus.
182:2.13 While all this was in progress at the
Master's camp, Judas Iscariot was in conference with the captain
of the temple guards, who had assembled his men preparatory to
setting out, under the leadership of the betrayer, to arrest
Jesus.
3. ALONE IN GETHSEMANE
182:3.1 After all was still and quiet about the
camp, Jesus, taking Peter, James, and John, went a short way up a
near-by ravine where he had often before gone to pray and commune.
The three apostles could not help recognizing that he was
grievously oppressed; never before had they observed their Master
to be so heavy-laden and sorrowful. When they arrived at the place
of his devotions, he bade the three sit down and watch with him
while he went off about a stone's throw to pray. And when he had
fallen down on his face, he prayed: "My Father, I came into this
world to do your will, and so have I. I know that the hour has
come to lay down this life in the flesh, and I do not shrink
therefrom, but I would know that it is your will that I drink this
cup. Send me the assurance that I will please you in my death even
as I have in my life."
182:3.2 The Master remained in a prayerful
attitude for a few moments, and then, going over to the three
apostles, he found them sound asleep, for their eyes were heavy
and they could not remain awake. As Jesus awoke them, he said:
"What! can you not watch with me even for one hour? Cannot you see
that my soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death, and that I
crave your companionship?" After the three had aroused from their
slumber, the Master again went apart by himself and, falling down
on the ground, again prayed: "Father, I know it is possible to
avoid this cup -- all things are possible with you -- but I have
come to do your will, and while this is a bitter cup, I would
drink it if it is your will." And when he had thus prayed, a
mighty angel came down by his side and, speaking to him, touched
him and strengthened him.
182:3.3 When Jesus returned to speak with the
three apostles, he again found them fast asleep. He awakened them,
saying: "In such an hour I need that you should watch and pray
with me -- all the more do you need to pray that you enter not
into temptation -- wherefore do you fall asleep when I leave you?"
182:3.4 And then, for a third time, the Master
withdrew and prayed: "Father, you see my sleeping apostles; have
mercy upon them. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is
weak. And now, O Father, if this cup may not pass, then would I
drink it. Not my will, but yours, be done." And when he had
finished praying, he lay for a moment prostrate on the ground.
When he arose and went back to his apostles, once more he found
them asleep. He surveyed them and, with a pitying gesture,
tenderly said: "Sleep on now and take your rest; the time of
decision is past. The hour is now upon us wherein the Son of Man
will be betrayed into the hands of his enemies." As he reached
down to shake them that he might awaken them, he said: "Arise, let
us be going back to the camp, for, behold, he who betrays me is at
hand, and the hour has come when my flock shall be scattered. But
I have already told you about these things."
182:3.5 During the years that Jesus lived among
his followers, they did, indeed, have much proof of his divine
nature, but just now are they about to witness new evidences of
his humanity. Just before the greatest of all the revelations of
his divinity, his resurrection, must now come the greatest proofs
of his mortal nature, his humiliation and crucifixion.
182:3.6 Each time he prayed in the garden, his
humanity laid a firmer faith-hold upon his divinity; his human
will more completely became one with the divine will of his
Father. Among other words spoken to him by the mighty angel was
the message that the Father desired his Son to finish his earth
bestowal by passing through the creature experience of death just
as all mortal creatures must experience material dissolution in
passing from the existence of time into the progression of
eternity.
182:3.7 Earlier in the evening it had not seemed
so difficult to drink the cup, but as the human Jesus bade
farewell to his apostles and sent them to their rest, the trial
grew more appalling. Jesus experienced that natural ebb and flow
of feeling which is common to all human experience, and just now
he was weary from work, exhausted from the long hours of strenuous
labor and painful anxiety concerning the safety of his apostles.
While no mortal can presume to understand the thoughts and
feelings of the incarnate Son of God at such a time as this, we
know that he endured great anguish and suffered untold sorrow, for
the perspiration rolled off his face in great drops. He was at
last convinced that the Father intended to allow natural events to
take their course; he was fully determined to employ none of his
sovereign power as the supreme head of a universe to save himself.
182:3.8 The assembled hosts of a vast creation
are now hovered over this scene under the transient joint command
of Gabriel and the Personalized Adjuster of Jesus. The division
commanders of these armies of heaven have repeatedly been warned
not to interfere with these transactions on earth unless Jesus
himself should order them to intervene.
182:3.9 The experience of parting with the
apostles was a great strain on the human heart of Jesus; this
sorrow of love bore down on him and made it more difficult to face
such a death as he well knew awaited him. He realized how weak and
how ignorant his apostles were, and he dreaded to leave them. He
well knew that the time of his departure had come, but his human
heart longed to find out whether there might not possibly be some
legitimate avenue of escape from this terrible plight of suffering
and sorrow. And when it had thus sought escape, and failed, it was
willing to drink the cup. The divine mind of Michael knew he had
done his best for the twelve apostles; but the human heart of
Jesus wished that more might have been done for them before they
should be left alone in the world. Jesus' heart was being crushed;
he truly loved his brethren. He was isolated from his family in
the flesh; one of his chosen associates was betraying him. His
father Joseph's people had rejected him and thereby sealed their
doom as a people with a special mission on earth. His soul was
tortured by baffled love and rejected mercy. It was just one of
those awful human moments when everything seems to bear down with
crushing cruelty and terrible agony.
182:3.10 Jesus' humanity was not insensible to
this situation of private loneliness, public shame, and the
appearance of the failure of his cause. All these sentiments bore
down on him with indescribable heaviness. In this great sorrow his
mind went back to the days of his childhood in Nazareth and to his
early work in Galilee. At the time of this great trial there came
up in his mind many of those pleasant scenes of his earthly
ministry. And it was from these old memories of Nazareth,
Capernaum, Mount Hermon, and of the sunrise and sunset on the
shimmering Sea of Galilee, that he soothed himself as he made his
human heart strong and ready to encounter the traitor who should
so soon betray him.
182:3.11 Before Judas and the soldiers arrived,
the Master had fully regained his customary poise; the spirit had
triumphed over the flesh; faith had asserted itself over all human
tendencies to fear or entertain doubt. The supreme test of the
full realization of the human nature had been met and acceptably
passed. Once more the Son of Man was prepared to face his enemies
with equanimity and in the full assurance of his invincibility as
a mortal man unreservedly dedicated to the doing of his Father's
will.
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